6 Items That Are Cheaper This Holiday Season 

From turkeys to toys, people are spending less on some items this holiday season. Lower inflation, a better supply chain and weaker demand are behind many of the price drops. Stuck with excess inventory, retailers are piling on, slashing prices to draw shoppers in. That creates an environment where consumers can save in certain categories this holiday season. 

“Retailers are having to bend this year. We’re seeing the best discounting season in years,” says Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate. “A lot of it started in early October and will keep rolling through the holidays. Thirty percent will be the floor of what a lot of people are expecting to get them excited about buying this year.” But it’s not just toys and apparel. You can also save on some food items common during the holidays.

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That’s not to say we are at pre-pandemic prices, but they are coming down a bit in some areas, giving consumers some relief. With that in mind, here’s a look at six things that are cheaper this holiday season.

1. Electronics

From smartphones to e-readers, electronics are popular gifts during the holidays. It’s also a category where you can save as much as 30 percent, according to Adobe. A lot of that has to do with improvements in the supply chain. “Many of the supply chain snags that haunted previous years are easing,” says Kristin McGrath, shopping expert at RetailMeNot. The same holds true for TVs. Adobe expects prices to be 22 percent lower this season.

2. Apparel

Thanks to rising interest rates, elevated inflation and worries about the economy, retailers are sitting on excess inventory this holiday season. As a result, they are slashing prices on clothing and other gear. During Black Friday weekend, discounts were as much as 22 percent, according to Adobe. “Even with Black Friday over, retailers are trying to get items off their shelves and encourage more shopping trips for as long as consumers are in the holiday mindset,” says McGrath.

3. Airfare

Despite a strong appetite among consumers for travel, demand for air travel has fallen in recent months and prices have followed suit. Airfare during Thanksgiving was down 14 percent year-over-year and 7 percent lower from 2019 prices, according to Hopper, the airfare-tracking website. Meanwhile, airfare for Christmas is down 12 percent from last year but 29 percent higher than pre-pandemic 2019.