'It's going to be tough': Report predicts grocery store prices to keep rising
Food prices in Canada will continue to rise in the New Year, according to a new report.
The 13th edition of Canada’s Food Price Report released on Monday said that overall, food prices will increase by five to seven per cent next year.
“It's tough for families there's no question,” said grocery shopper Marny Beale in Windsor, Ont.
“I don't know how people with family are doing it because even the basics, bread, milk — and with Christmas, they want to get other stuff in but it's going to be tough.”
The report forecasts that an average family of four, including a man (age 31-50), woman (age 31-50), boy (age 14-18), and girl (age 9-13) will spend up to $16,288.41 per year on food, an increase of up to $1,065.60 from what was observed in 2022.
“Just trying to watch every dollar,” explained consumer Beth Kohut. “I look at flyers and shop around instead of just going to one store now.”
La Stella Supermarket on Erie Street owner Jimmy Pugliese said in an interview that it’s best to keep an eye out for deals, telling CTV News it’s difficult to keep prices down.
“Everything goes up like it's so ridiculous,” Pugliese said. “It's crazy.”
“It doesn't make sense, a lot of things don't make sense. Like I was getting stuff from Montreal delivered here for free. Now, I to have to pay $200 just for the freight on each pallet. It adds up.”
Mercato Fresh president, Marc Romauldi, explained business has been busy since the opening of their second grocery store location in southwestern Ontario last month.
“We buy from Maple Leaf, Schneiders, all the major Ontario premium packers and we deal directly with those packers every day,” he said.
Romauldi said keeping things as local as possible helps keep prices consistent, noting logistic cost savings are passed to customers.
“We’re not a gas station, we keep our prices the same as much as possible. Unless we feel it's going to be a permanent thing then we may look at it but we do our best to keep the prices status quo,” Romauldi said.
Lead author of the report and Dalhousie University professor of food distribution and policy, Sylvain Charlebois, said the first part of 2023 will remain challenging but that consumers should eventually get a break.
“We are expecting an economic downturn and the silver lining of economic downturns is that really things will come down, people will have less money to spend and grocers will have to adjust prices. They won't have much of a choice,” Charlebois told CTV News.
“We are expecting grocers to offer more deals to consumers. Over the last couple of years things have been so crazy, grocers really not have time to offer any loss leaders or deals at the grocery store. We are expecting more deals as consumers become a more frugal than they are now.”
Charlebois suggested to continue searching for deals to find savings.
“If you can alternate between two or three stores, go to one store every week but a different store every week and you'll become better knowledgeable about the market,” he said. “Prices change every single day.”
- With files from the Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
BREAKING Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Prince William and wife Kate thank public for birthday messages for son Louis
Prince William and his wife Kate thanked the public for their messages which had been sent to mark the sixth birthday of their youngest son Louis on Tuesday.
She was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father. Then life dealt her a blow
Anne Marie Cavner was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father, but then life dealt her a blow. From an unexpected loss to a host of new relationships, a DNA test changed her life, and she doesn't regret a thing.
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Fire engulfs old Edmonton municipal airport hangar
A historical hangar at the former Edmonton municipal airport beside the NAIT main campus was on fire Monday night.
RCMP uncovers plot to sell drones and equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a ploy to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.