When are the best and worst times of the year to buy popular household products?

Buying sunglasses in February or a barbecue in December may feel a bit odd, but buying “out of season” could lead to significant savings, according to new research.

Price and product comparison service PriceSpy has analysed prices on its website during the course of 2023 to pinpoint the months when items may be at at their cheapest – or when shoppers may end up paying a premium.

Buying in “peak season” can come at a cost. For example, PriceSpy found that, last year, a pizza oven could cost around 28% more on average in July compared with the average price across the year.

While different trends may emerge in 2024, the findings may at least give an indication of when we might expect items to be cheaper or more costly.

It’s always worth doing a bit of research and looking out for sales and offers as they crop up. Price comparison websites and price drop alerts can also help people to check whether they could be getting a decent price.

Liisa Matinvesi-Bassett, UK country manager at PriceSpy, says: “Simply put, no-one wants to pay more for something than they have to. Knowing the best time to buy can help with year-round budgeting and ensure you’re in a position to snap up great offers when they come around.”

She adds: “Seasonality is nothing new when it comes to retailers’ pricing strategies, however PriceSpy’s data reveals just how significant the premium can be when it comes to peak seasonal pricing.”

Here are PriceSpy’s tips for price savings and price premiums in particular months of the year, based on data from its website in 2023. The typical percentage savings and extra costs in particular months are based on a comparison with average prices for these items across the whole of 2023. Past prices do not necessarily reflect future trends:

January

Buy:

Laptop (10% saving)

Don’t buy:

Football boots (7% extra cost)

February

Sunglasses (11% saving)