Prices have gone up for this holiday season.
Bankrate’s 2025 Holiday Essentials Index finds that more than three in four holiday staples have gotten more expensive since last year, the most since 2022.
Bankrate economic analyst Sarah Foster says there are a couple of sticking points this year.
“That’s the price of throwing a holiday party or cooking for your family and friends,” Foster said. “Food and groceries inflation has actually been moving in the wrong direction. And that’s part of the reason why we saw that six of the 10 most inflated items were actually belonging to the food category.”
Instead of throwing a holiday party by yourself, Foster recommends throwing a potluck where everyone brings something to cut down on costs. She says another way to save money is by not spending a lot on decorations.
