Australians Set to Spend $4.8 Billion Over Easter Despite Cost-of-Living Pressures
Sydney, The Gulf Observer: Even amid ongoing cost-of-living challenges, Australians are expected to spend a staggering $4.8 billion over the Easter long weekend, splashing out on food, travel, and entertainment, according to data from the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and Roy Morgan.
Nearly half of all Australians are planning to indulge in Easter chocolate, spending around $68 each, contributing to a national total exceeding $700 million on confectionery alone. This comes despite historically high cocoa prices, which have made Easter treats like eggs and chocolate bunnies noticeably more expensive, although prices have eased slightly in recent months.
Seafood remains a popular Easter staple. The number of shoppers purchasing fresh fish, scallops, oysters, and salmon is expected to rise, with 42 per cent of grocery buyers planning to buy seafood over Easter—up from 36 per cent in the previous four weeks. This represents a spike of around 500,000 additional seafood buyers during the holiday.
Those opting for a traditional lamb roast may face higher costs, with lamb prices rising 20 per cent compared to last year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Adding to the demand for festive food, Orthodox Easter falls on the same Sunday this year, intensifying the rush for last-minute chocolate eggs and seasonal produce.
Despite financial pressures, the data suggests that Australians are still willing to indulge in Easter traditions, making the holiday a critical time for retailers and hospitality operators across the country.
