Survey: Half of Latvians expect Christmas spending to match last year
A survey commissioned by IKEA shows 51% of Latvian residents plan to spend the same on Christmas as last year. More than half intend to budget up to 120 euros for gifts.
Many Latvian residents have started planning their Christmas celebrations, and half expect to spend the same as last year. This is shown by a survey commissioned by home furnishing retailer IKEA, reported by the newspaper Latvijas Avīze on 4 November 2026. The data offers a glimpse of consumer sentiment ahead of the holiday shopping season.
Gift budgets
Exactly 51% of respondents expect their total holiday spending to stay at last year's level. Most of the money is earmarked for gifts: 56% plan to spend up to 120 euros on them, while 14% plan to spend more than 200 euros. Some 38% are prepared to spend up to 90 euros, and 27% plan to spend over 160 euros.
Gift buyers make up 93% of respondents, as only 7% do not plan to buy any this year. Some 46% will buy gifts for one to four people, and 26% for seven or more. Budgets are higher in neighbouring countries: 27% of Lithuanians and 22% of Estonians plan to spend more than 200 euros on gifts.
Differences by age
Among people aged 30 to 49, roughly one in five plans to spend over 200 euros on gifts, compared with 9% of those aged 60 to 74. Overall, 12% of respondents intend to raise their gift budget, including 23% of those aged 18 to 29. Another 6% expect to spend more on the festive table because they will host guests.
Total spending and early preparation
Counting all holiday costs, 64% plan to spend up to 200 euros, and 16% between 201 and 300 euros. More than 300 euros will be set aside by 13% in Latvia, 22% in Lithuania and 13% in Estonia.
Pēteris Grīnbergs, head of IKEA in Latvia, says shoppers begin buying their first decorations, such as candle holders and string lights, as early as September. According to him, sales of holiday items from the VINTERFINT and VINTERSAGA collections in Latvia tripled in September compared with last year, and interest continued in October.
The online survey was carried out by research company Norstat in September 2026 and involved 1,039 Latvian residents.
