愛污传媒

Lifestyle

    • Food prices are expected to keep going up by five to seven per cent in 2023: report

    Share

    Canadians won鈥檛 be getting a break from soaring food prices any time soon, according to a December 2022 report which forecasts it will be more than $1,000 more expensive to feed the average family of four in 2023.

    After a year of skyrocketing prices and grocers raking in profits while denying price gouging allegations, Canadians are set to see food prices go up by five to seven per cent more this year, the report found.

    鈥淭o say that it鈥檚 been a challenging year for Canadians at the grocery store would be an understatement,鈥 Sylvain Charlebois, project lead and Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, said in a press release. 鈥淐onsumers will continue to get smarter about grocery shopping as they navigate through this so-called food inflation storm.鈥

    Canada鈥檚 Food Price Report 2023, which was released in December 2022, is estimating price increases will mean an average Canadian family of four will spend around $16,288 per year on food, a jump of $1,065 compared to the yearly cost of food observed in 2022.

    The biggest increases in food prices are expected to be seen in vegetables, dairy and meat.

    The Dalhousie-led report is a yearly collaboration with three other universities across Canada: the University of Guelph, the University of Saskatchewan and the University of British Columbia.

    To create the 2023 report, researchers used a new forecasting model, which includes historical data along with 鈥渢he additional variables of forecasted inflation and Canadian-U.S. exchange rate,鈥 Kelleen Wiseman, UBC campus lead, said in the release.

    Vegetable prices are predicted to increase by six to eight per cent in 2023, the largest price jump for any one category of food. The smallest change is expected to be within fruit, which is anticipated to increase in price by three to five per cent.

    Estimations for sample households, with the largest estimate being around $21,200 in yearly food costs for a six person household including parents, a grandparent and three children, may not be fully accurate, researchers said. Instead, the costs could be even higher, as these estimates assume very little food waste and do not account for food service costs and eating out.

    On a macro-level, factors such as climate change, geopolitical risks, energy costs and inflation are expected to have a very significant impact in driving up food prices in 2023.

    FOOD PRICES FOR 2022 SOARED HIGHER THAN PREDICTED

    This prediction of an overall increase by five to seven per cent for food prices in 2023 is the same prediction researchers made for 2022 鈥 a prediction that turned out to be wrong. The current rate for food price increases as of September 2022 was 10.3 per cent, the report admits, much higher than had been anticipated.

    At the time, the report鈥檚 prediction of an increase of seven per cent 鈥渨as considered by many to be alarmist,鈥 the new report stated. And yet, prices spiked even higher than expected.

    Canada saw the highest rate of food inflation since the 1980s in 2022, the report stated. In 2022, vegetable prices increased by more than 12 per cent, while bakery items increased by nearly 15 per cent. Meat prices increased by 7.6 per cent, far above that category鈥檚 predicted two per cent increase.

    In 2022, there were also nearly 1.5 million visits to food banks, with the usage in March 2022 being the highest of all time for that month. Food bank usage has been increasing since June 2020, the new report notes, and rising food prices are expected to keep this trend going as more and more Canadians find they can鈥檛 afford to buy food.

    GROCERS UNDER FIRE

    In March, the leaders of Canada鈥檚 major grocery chains testified in front of a parliamentary committee that they were not responsible for high food prices and were not price gouging.

    The CEOs and presidents behind Loblaw Companies. Ltd., Metro Inc. and Empire Co. Ltd 鈥 which operates chains such as Sobeys, Safeway and FreshCo 鈥 argued that food inflation is a global problem.

    Galen Weston took home $8.4 million in compensation in the 2022 fiscal year as head of the Loblaw Companies Ltd.

    Last fall, research from Dalhousie University found Canada鈥檚 top three grocers posted higher profits in 2022 compared with their average performances over the last five years, although the research stopped short of suggesting that grocers were taking advantage of high inflation to charge an excess amount of money for food.

    The new 2023 report notes Loblaws鈥 voluntary price freeze announced in October 2022 was a 鈥渕ove welcomed by many Canadians struggling with food inflation,鈥 but added many across Canada are still concerned about potential price gouging.

    CONTRIBUTING FACTORS AS PRICES SURGE

    Researchers noted climate change and changes in supply chain distribution are going to continue to affect prices.

    As the war in Ukraine rages on, it will continue to have a persistent impact on food prices in Canada, the report predicted.

    鈥淭he uncertainty from the ongoing Ukraine war shows no signs of ceasing and the Canadian dollar compared to the U.S. dollar has recently ranged five to seven cents lower and this has driven up the cost of all imported American products鈥 Stuart Smyth, University of Saskatchewan campus lead, said in the release. 鈥淟abour shortages in key sectors, such as crop harvesting, food processing, and transportation lower supply and drive-up prices.鈥

    Is there anything that the average Canadian can do? Researchers recommend for those who can, it鈥檚 a good time to become a 鈥渟mart shopper鈥 and start using coupons and consulting flyers for specials, as well as finding cheaper alternatives to expensive foods.

    鈥淲e haven鈥檛 seen food prices increase this high in Canada for over 40 years and based on our findings, the increases we have predicted are still quite high but not as high as the increases for 2022,鈥 Simon Somogyi, University of Guelph campus lead, said in the release. 鈥淭hat may be cold comfort for Canadians, as food prices are already high, but if inflation can come down, it鈥檚 possible that we could see price increases for 2023 at or below 5 per cent.鈥  

    Correction

    A previous version of this article stated that the聽Canada's Food Price Report 2023 was a new report released this week. This was incorrect. The report was published in December 2022.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.

    A father and his two children who suffered severe burns in a Springfield, Ont. house fire have undergone surgery.

    Canada

    • British Columbia's highest court has weighed in on a dispute over an inflatable hot tub a couple set up on their condo's patio 鈥 potentially bringing a close to the years-long conflict.

    • A father and his two children who suffered severe burns in a Springfield, Ont. house fire have undergone surgery.

    • Mounties in British Columbia say a second person has been found dead after two vehicles ended up in a river on Vancouver Island when a road washed out amid torrential rains over the weekend.

    World

    Politics

    Health

    • With the B.C. election too close to call, Dr. Bonnie Henry was asked Tuesday how she feels about the possibility of a party that has repeatedly called for her firing forming government.

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    Local Spotlight

    Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

    A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.

    A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.

    A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

    Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.

    Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.

    The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that 鈥 and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.

    A Moncton, N.B., home has been donated to the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation and will be transformed into a resource hub for people living with cancer.

    A Nova Scotia man crossing Canada on foot is passing through southwestern Ontario. Trevor Redmond is perhaps better known as the 鈥楩ellow in Yellow.鈥

    • Two Vancouver city councillors are questioning why they鈥檝e been ousted from city appointed roles.

    • The rain has only just stopped pummelling parts of Metro Vancouver, but for the hundreds of residents left with flood-damaged homes, the nightmare is far from over.

    • Cole Mcleod was home with his roommate in their 21st floor apartment on Monday afternoon when the fire alarm went off in the downtown Vancouver building. Then, he smelled smoke.

    • The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) and opposition leaders at Queen's Park are calling on the government to reduce, or eliminate, parking fees at hospitals for staff, patients and visitors.

    • Taylor Swift fans from far and wide will head to Toronto next month to see the superstar perform a series of six sold out shows at the Rogers Centre.

    • Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she's waiting for NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi to declare where he intends to run for office before she calls a byelection in Lethbridge.

    • Bricks along the pathway at Calgary鈥檚 Olympic Plaza have been removed and it wasn鈥檛 by the city. It appears people are coming to grab bricks with their names, family members鈥 name or a saying ahead of the plaza closing.

    • NEW THIS MORNING

      NEW THIS MORNING

      An Orl茅ans property that once belonged to a religious order is now in the City of Ottawa's hands.

    • You will be able to pick up beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages at Costco, Walmart and more grocery stores in Ottawa next week.

    • Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

    • Quebec Premier Francois Legault promised on Tuesday to toughen secularism measures in schools, saying he was 'shocked' by revelations about a Montreal public school where a group of teachers had tried to introduce what the premier described as 'Islamist' beliefs.

    • The Quebec government wants to hear Quebecers' thoughts about scrapping the twice-yearly time change, but it isn't promising to act on them.

    • The death of a woman in her 50s in Montreal's Anjou borough is being considered as 'suspicious' by authorities.

    • Police are looking for a man and a woman who robbed an Edmonton jewelry store earlier this month.

    • Edmonton Public Schools (EPS) custodians have voted 97 per cent in favour of going on strike.

    • A new commentary suggests the Government of Alberta purposely pushed false narratives around public safety to scale down safe supply in the province.

    • Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.

    • The president of a popular New Brunswick potato chip company has been arrested for domestic violence in Bangor, Maine.

    • A special weather statement is in effect Wednesday as Environment Canada warns of possible heavy rain and strong winds in parts of Nova Scotia later this week.

    • Folks making the trek to and from Thompson along Highway 6 are once again without a bathroom break鈥 at least for now.

    • The Manitoba government is restoring the 1:1 apprentice-to-journeyperson ratio.

    • A number of Manitoba communities kicked off the week by breaking decades-old heat records.

    • Saskatchewan's Conflict of Interest Commissioner (COIC) has found that former Saskatchewan Party MLA Gary Grewal violated legislative rules by profiting from hotels while they were party to government contracts.

    • A determined group within Moose Jaw has stepped up to provide assistance to those in need 鈥 following the closure of one of the city's shelters.

    • Saturday's matchup between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Calgary Stampeders could determine if they clinch the West Division title, however the results from Winnipeg's game earlier in the day could make their matchup meaningless.

    • Waterloo Regional Police are investigating a sudden death in Kitchener.

    • No one was hurt after playground equipment went up in flames at a Kitchener, Ont. park.

    • A bloodstain pattern analyst expert testified Tuesday at Erick Buhr鈥檚 second-degree murder trial.

    • A Saskatoon family is voicing concerns after paying twice as much PST as expected on a recently purchased truck.

    • Hundreds of voter information cards have landed in the wrong hands.

    • A city planning document for the Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT) sparked controversy over the weekend, with three civic election candidates alleging Confederation Mall was at risk of being demolished and replaced with dense housing.

    • Greater Sudbury has ended the employment of CAO Ed Archer, Mayor Paul Lefebvre announced suddenly Tuesday evening

    • The Sudbury jury is still out deliberating whether or not Felicity Altiman killed Robert Keskinen, 75, in December 2020.

    • Police said the house is believed to be empty and abandoned and it's not known yet if the driver of the truck is injured.

    • A father and his two children who suffered severe burns in a Springfield, Ont. house fire have undergone surgery.

    • A collision between a pickup truck and SUV shuttered the intersection of Base Line and New Road for several hours.

    • A thriving circular economy extends the lives of products.

    • Emergency crews rushed to the scene of a serious collision in Barrie鈥檚 south end involving a passenger vehicle and a motorcycle.

    • Drivers are asked to be on the lookout for deer and other wildlife crossing our highways.

    • Residents living in central Windsor are calling for after-hours construction to expand a commercial development to stop.

    • NextStar Energy is celebrating the official start of battery module production.

    • The University of Windsor board of governors has upheld its decision to disqualify a motion that aims to pause a pair of agreements with pro-Palestinian protesters.

    • Mounties in British Columbia say a second person has been found dead after two vehicles ended up in a river on Vancouver Island when a road washed out amid torrential rains over the weekend.

    • With the B.C. election too close to call, Dr. Bonnie Henry was asked Tuesday how she feels about the possibility of a party that has repeatedly called for her firing forming government.

    • Premier and NDP Leader David Eby says he's been told by the B.C. Green Party that it's too early to begin talks about a minority government agreement after the weekend's still-undecided provincial election.

    • Dave Lindsey began growing giant pumpkins to bring a bit of magic to his grandkids' Halloween.

    • A U.S. District Court judge in Montana has sentenced a 27-year-old man from Kelowna, B.C., to 18 months in prison for using fake names to buy guns with the aim of selling them in Canada.

    • Nearly two years after a man was stabbed to death in downtown Kelowna, RCMP have made an arrest in the case.

    • Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she's waiting for NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi to declare where he intends to run for office before she calls a byelection in Lethbridge.

    • The health of honeybees will be the focus of a presentation at the University of Lethbridge on Wednesday evening.

    • Alberta is offering infrastructure funding to help municipalities accommodate recent population growth. The province has added a little over 500,000 people over five years, putting pressure on public services.

    • The union representing the fire rangers with the Ministry of Natural Resources says money won鈥檛 fix the systemic problems in the workplace.

    • Rallies by a group called Voices Against Violence took place across the country on Monday, including Sault Ste. Marie.

    • An Indigenous group in northwestern Ontario shut down the highway for a couple of hours Monday morning in protest after ancestral remains were found at a construction site.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at 愛污传媒. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.聽Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow 愛污传媒