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- New Brunswick shoppers face the worst food inflation in Canada, with prices up 3.7% over the past year.
- Beef prices have surged 12.7% nationwide, while coffee and tea have climbed 12.8%.
- Christmas food shopping is also expected to strain budgets this year, as rising costs for beef, dairy, and produce make hosting holiday dinners significantly more expensive than in 2024.
Grocery prices are up across Canada and a new study shows which provinces are feeling it the most at the checkout, just as Canadians begin budgeting for their Christmas dinners and holiday gatherings.
The analysis from money experts Dollarwise analyzed data from Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) reports for May 2025. The analysis compared year-over-year price changes (May 2024 to May 2025) for food products across all Canadian provinces.
Food prices across Canada went up 3.4% between May 2024 and May 2025, data from the Consumer Price Index reveals, meaning Canadian families will need to dig deeper not only for their weekly grocery shop but also for their Christmas food shopping this year.
Top five provinces with greatest increase in food prices:
|
Rank |
Province |
Food Price Increase (May 2024-May 2025) |
|
1 |
New Brunswick |
3.7% |
|
2 |
Newfoundland and Labrador |
3.6% |
|
2 |
Ontario |
3.6% |
|
4 |
Saskatchewan |
3.5% |
|
5 |
Prince Edward Island |
3.4% |
“Many Canadian families already struggle to make ends meet, and these food price hikes make things worse,” says Jack Prenter, CEO of Dollarwise. “What’s particularly troubling is beef, with some provinces now paying nearly a quarter more than they did last year.”
The figures show which items hurt shoppers most. Fresh or frozen beef led nationwide increases at 12.7% (+$2.12kg ground beef) in 12 months. Oranges cost 15.8% (+$0.88) more across Canada.
“Beef prices have risen so dramatically it’s truly alarming,” says Prenter. “Depending on which province you live in, you’re paying between 6% and 24% more for this protein source than you did a year ago.”
Looking at April to May 2025 shows more price shocks. Potato prices rose 9.6% (+$0.2kg) in just four weeks. The one bright spot was for fruit and veg, tomato prices dropped 9.7% (-$0.17kg) and cucumber prices fell 10.1% (-$0.05) during this period.
Top five provinces with lowest increase in food prices:
|
Rank |
Province |
Food Price Increase (May 2024-May 2025) |
|
1 |
Nova Scotia |
2.7% |
|
2 |
Manitoba |
3.0% |
|
3 |
Quebec |
3.1% |
|
4 |
British Columbia |
3.2% |
|
5 |
Alberta |
3.3% |
Monthly data shows wild price fluctuations for certain foods. Grape prices jumped 21.4% (+$2.19) from April to May 2025. Berry prices went in the opposite direction, falling 8.6% in the same timeframe.
The worst category increases hit coffee drinkers, with roasted or ground coffee up 20% (+$0.72) nationwide. Beef eaters felt similar pain, especially those buying ground beef, which rose 16.3% across Canada.
“Not all food categories face the same increases,” Prenter adds. “Families should look at shifting their shopping habits toward items with more stable prices to better manage their food budgets.”
ENDS
