The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has released its annual Noche Buena Price Guide for 2025, a key reference for Filipino families preparing their Christmas feasts. 95 holiday food items will see price increases this year, while 129 products will retain their current prices. The guide, which covers 256 items across 14 categories, will remain effective until December 31, 2025.
The price adjustments are largely attributed to higher costs of raw materials, packaging, and labor. Among the categories affected are ham, fruit cocktail, spaghetti sauce, and tomato sauce. For instance, out of seven fruit cocktail stock-keeping units (SKUs), five registered increases while two maintained their prices. In the case of spaghetti sauce, only one of twelve SKUs held steady, while the rest reflected upward adjustments. Tomato sauce showed a similar trend, with two of fifteen SKUs unchanged and the rest slightly higher.
This year’s guide also introduced new additions, such as nata de coco and kaong, reflecting their growing popularity in Filipino holiday desserts. These inclusions provide consumers with a clearer picture of costs for traditional sweets like fruit salad, which remain staples of the Noche Buena table.
While the increases may be modest, they serve as a reminder of the inflationary pressures affecting households. The DTI emphasized that many staples remain affordable, ensuring that families can still celebrate their cherished traditions without drastic changes in spending. Careful budgeting, early shopping, and consideration of local brands are practical ways to manage costs while still enjoying a festive spread.
0 Comments