BIG-TICKET items such as cherries and lobsters may be missing from the traditional Christmas lunch this year as consumers pare back spending.

But the good news for retailers is a growth in the number of people buying their food from supermarkets and fish markets, avoiding expensive meals at restaurants and cafes.

Harris Farm's general manager of marketing and buying, Tristan Harris, said the business had experienced double digit growth in the past few weeks, compared with the corresponding period last year.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show a 4.6 per cent increase in revenue for food retailers in the year to October. The revenue of cafes, restaurants and takeaway outlets fell 6.2 per cent.

But while mangoes and bananas are being sold in great volume, Mr Harris said he expected slower sales of cherries, which will be slightly more expensive this year because of a poor harvest.

"There is the issue of the price barrier. But what we've also found is that our customers react very much to quality, and when there is an issue with a batch of produce it's not unusual to see a bit of a slight drop-off in sales."

The general manager of De Costi Seafoods, George De Costi, has seen the economic situation unfold as both a retailer and restaurateur. He said cooked tiger prawns would again be popular with consumers, as would smoked salmon. West Australian lobster would be less popular.

Strong demand from Asia and diminished numbers of the lobster this year have pushed its price up by $5, to as much as $55 a kilogram.

But Mr De Costi said he expected his restaurants to bear the brunt of the slowing economy, starting from the new year.

"I think if you're talking the restaurant trade, we haven't noticed much of a change yet," he said. "It hasn't all caught up with us in Australia but the financial strain is still coming. Being in the top echelon of restaurants, I think we will be one of the first businesses affected."

A Sydney Fish Markets spokeswoman said the five days leading to Christmas last year produced record crowds of more than 80,000 people. She said early indications from the past two days of trade suggest that crowds will exceed that amount this year.