The price for an average Christmas dinner is more than 2021, and some people are changing their habits. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association says a survey showed 60% of people are changing Christmas traditions because of higher costs.
At City Market in Burleson, Owner Kurt Jaeger says his costs have increased about 15%. He says popular items at parties and for Christmas meals are among those that have increased the most, including drinks, snack food and meats.
"We are very blessed to be here in Burleson. We know our customers, we have a lot of good, loyal support," he says. "We do the little things big stores won't do and can't do. That's what we do to try to set ourselves apart."
Jaeger says he is trying to avoid passing increased wholesale prices to those customers . He says he is selling a lot of food at a loss right now and hopes that will keep new customers returning during other parts of the year.
"This is our busiest time of the year," he says. "Christmas is our number one holiday followed by Thanksgiving. People have parties, and buy a lot of stuff. It's a good time for us."
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association says 42% of people surveyed worried about food prices. To save money, 31% said they would travel less over the holiday season and 28% said they would eat out less.
"It is a lot tougher when you look at something, pick it up and then you see the price and put it back down," one woman shopping at City Market said.
She laughed as she said she might make some changes to her menu at Christmas.
"We might have to settle for meatloaf instead of ham, stuff like that, but we'll manage," she said.
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