Kilkenny residents to fork out average of €408 on Christmas presents this year: poll

RESIDENTS in Kilkenny will fork out an average of just over €400 each on Christmas presents for family members this year.

The finding has emerged in a new Sunday Independent/Kantar Millward Brown opinion poll which reveals Irish householders will spend an average of €1,200 throughout the festive season.

The poll findings come as Ireland’s Christmas shopping spree hits new heights this year, with the country’s grocery bill in December alone set to reach €1bn for the first time.

However, according to the nationwide poll an overwhelming 86pc believe the celebration of the birth of Christ has become “too commercial”.

A breakdown shows households will, on average, spend €525 on presents, €292 on food, €147 on drink in the home and a further €131 in pubs as well as €139 going to restaurants over the period.

Those polled overwhelmingly believe the commercialisation of Christmas has gone too far, even if they still intend to spend big throughout the festive season.

The sense of rampant commercialisation is stronger in Leinster (94pc) and Munster (92pc) and among those aged 45 to 54, mostly parents will be the highest spenders. The lowest spenders are pensioners aged over 65.

The average household spend on Christmas cheer is substantially higher in Dublin than in other regions.

Dublin residents will spend most on gifts for family members, on average €638, compared to the lowest in Kilkenny and the rest of Leinster at €408.

Dublin residents also splash a lot more cash that those in other regions when it comes to going out on the town. In Munster, people expect to spend €93 in restaurants, but in Dublin, the average spend on dining out will be €228.

Leinster households will spend €91 in pubs, which is significantly lower than in Dublin, where the average household spend will be €210.