# What do Christmas market traders say about rising prices?

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/what-do-christmas-market-traders-say-about-rising-prices/
- Published: 2026-11-14T07:11:26+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-14T08:21:15+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Business (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c95y152k8erpo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Business, Markets

## Key points

- Manchester market traders face rising costs.
- An £8 sausage has not brought higher profits.
- Some businesses absorb costs or cut prices.

## Summary

Traders at Manchester’s Christmas markets say higher prices have not necessarily increased their profits, as bills for ingredients, energy and staff have risen. Some say customers are more cautious about spending, while traders face a choice between raising prices and absorbing costs.

Bratwurst King’s Nils Borstel said a sausage now costs £8, up from £3.50, but the business is making less money; he cited higher costs for meat, electricity, staffing and accommodation. CT Catering director Charlotte Whittle said her four stalls cost at least £4,000 a day to run and that her business had accepted lower profits to avoid pricing customers out. Some visitors questioned whether food portions justified the prices, while one trader said she had cut prices to encourage customers to return.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.