December 31st is here and, while waiting to celebrate the year that is about to end at midnight and welcome the new one, Italians prepare for the traditional New Year's Eve dinnerThe table set for this evening is a riot of rich and symbolic dishes, which vary slightly according to Italian regional traditions.
Ma How much will New Year's Eve dinner cost us this year? According to a survey commissioned by Facile.it to EMG Different, Italians will spend on average 72 euros per person for the New Year's Eve dinner, for an estimated total of over 3 billion euros, less than what was spent on Christmas Eve dinner.
Looking at the results of the survey, it emerges that the age group that will spend less is that of the under 25s, with an average of just 34 euros. A figure that could reflect the tradition of celebrating more informally with friends and family, each bringing something to share.
But the cost is not the same throughout Italy. While in the North East and in the Centre people will spend respectively 46 and 52 Euros, those who live in the South and on the Islands are planning a much higher budget: a whopping 97 euros per person.
Compared to 2023, the Spending forecasts are variable. 24% of those interviewed intend to spend more, while 12% expect to reduce their budget, with a peak of 25% among 35-44 year olds and 30% in the North East.
And what if the desire to celebrate clashes with finances? According to the survey, 1% of Italians will rely on a personal loan to finance the dinner.
New Year's Eve Dinner: How Much Does Food Cost?
The prices of typical products for the dinner of New Year's Eve vary greatly depending on the type and quality. For example, the dried lentils in packages of up to 500 grams have a minimum price of 2,18 euros and a maximum of 19,80 euros, with an average of 7,02 euros per kilo. As regards the cotechino, the average cost per kilo is 11,30 euros, ranging between a minimum of 6,58 euros and a maximum of 20,97 euros. trotter has an average price of 11,80 euros per kilo, with variations between 6,39 euros and 14,90 euros. The Norwegian smoked salmon costs on average 53,32 euros per kilo, with a minimum of 26,45 euros and a maximum of 83 euros, while the Scottish one is slightly more expensive, with an average of 57,23 euros per kilo, varying between 39,90 euros and 79 euros. For the traditional sweets, the panettone has an average cost of 9,32 euros, with prices ranging from 4,29 euros to 17,90 euros, while the pandoro stands at an average of 8,63 euros, oscillating between 4,60 euros and 16,99 euros.
Finally, for the toast, sparkling wine or champagne has an average price of 20,63 euros per litre, with bottles starting from 2,39 euros up to 74,53 euros for the most prestigious labels.
Dinner at the restaurant: average price is 93 euros
For those who prefer the convenience of the restaurant instead of organizing the dinner at home, the costs are different. According to Fipe-Confcommercio, the80% of restaurants and hotels with catering service have already registered full occupancy. Despite this, compared to last year, there has been a slight decline in both bookings and in the number of venues that have decided to organize events for New Year's Eve. Some have chosen to move the celebrations to lunch on January 1st, a less crowded solution but still appreciated by families and groups of friends.
Currently, they are approx 70.000 restaurants open for the occasion, even to 53% of the total, down from 56,7% the previous year. A overall participation of 4,3 million people and a total expense of 400 million euro, down 7,6% compared to 2023.
La average expense for dinner it is attested on the 93 euro per person which rises to 125 euros for those who choose the complete formula with party, music and shows.
“Despite a situation that shows signs of a slowdown in the economy and consumption, there is still moderate optimism among restaurant operators,” he commented. Michael Tropiano di Federalberghi.
