Despite the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, Australians are set to splash out significantly this Easter, with expected spending of $4.8 billion on food, travel, and entertainment during the extended weekend.
A notable trend is that nearly half of the population plans to indulge in chocolate, with average spending projected at $68 per person—amounting to a staggering total of over $700 million on sweets alone, as reported by the Australian Retailers Association and Roy Morgan.
While the cost of Easter treats like eggs and bunnies has been impacted by rising cocoa prices, which recently surged to an all-time high, there has been a slight decrease in these costs in recent months. Households are also likely to enjoy a range of seafood this season, with fresh fish, scallops, oysters, and salmon featuring prominently on many menus. Approximately 36% of grocery shoppers have incorporated seafood into their purchases in the previous month, with that figure rising to 42% over Easter, reflecting an increase of around 500,000 additional buyers.
However, those planning to include lamb in their Easter feasts should prepare for higher prices, which have increased by about 20% since last year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. On a related note, there is expected to be a surge in demand for last-minute chocolate egg purchases, coinciding with Orthodox Easter celebrations occurring this Sunday.
In essence, Easter spending in Australia reflects a buoyant consumer appetite, even amidst economic challenges, highlighting a commitment to holiday traditions centred around food, family, and festive treats.