Food prices in Canada rise at faster pace than overall inflation, 12 months in a row
Posted December 21, 2022 8:40 am.
Last Updated December 21, 2022 9:18 am.
New figures show grocery inflation in Canada surged again in November as the price of basics like bread, eggs, and dairy products shot up.
Statistics Canada says prices for food purchased from stores rose 11.4 per cent last month compared with a year ago, up from an 11 per cent gain in October.
The agency says prices for groceries have now risen at a faster pace than overall inflation for 12 months in a row.
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Coffee and tea prices were up 16.8 per cent in November while items such as edible fats and oils climbed 26 per cent, eggs rose 16.7 per cent and bread, rolls, and buns were up 18.2 per cent.
Sylvain Charlebois, professor of food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University, says rising grocery prices is a global phenomenon with countries like France, Germany, and the U.K. posting even higher food inflation rates than Canada last month.
Still, he says much of Canada’s food is produced domestically and prices are increasing due to a host of factors including higher labour, packaging, and energy costs.
