Cost of food in Canada increased 1.30 percent in February of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Canada Food Inflation - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

In Canada, the cost of food has increased every month from June 2022 to September 2024. In April and May 2023, the cost of food increased by 8.3 each month, compared to that month in the previous year. Inflation peaked in January 2023, but has since gown down to 2.8 percent in September 2024.

In 2024, the annual growth in food prices in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada reached approximately 3.8 percent. Newfoundland and Labrador had the highest inflation rate among all provinces. British Columbia had a food inflation rate of 2.8 percent.

Monthly indexes and percentage changes for selected sub-groups of the food component of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), not seasonally adjusted, for Canada, provinces, Whitehorse and Yellowknife. Data are presented for the corresponding month of the previous year, the previous month and the current month. The base year for the index is 2002=100.

When surveyed in November 2024, some 67 percent of respondents in Canada stated that they expected grocery prices to increase. This figure has increased since the start of the survey period in September 2021 and first peaked at 80 percent in May 2022.

The consumer price index of food in Canada has generally increased since 2000. The base year 2002 equals 100 and after that year, the price index stayed over 100 and increased each year until ultimately reaching a high of 190.5 in July 2024. Since then, the index has slightly decreased but reached 190.5 again in October 2024.

Monthly average retail prices for selected products, for Canada and provinces. Prices are presented for the current month and the previous four months. Prices are based on transaction data from Canadian retailers, and are presented in Canadian current dollars.

In the three months ending September 30, 2023, the food basket inflation of the Canadian grocery retailer Metro was approximately 5.5 percent, down from around eight percent in the previous quarter. Metro's food basket inflation has gradually increased during 2022, up from an inflation rate of 3.5 percent in the three months ending December 18, 2021.

Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): All Items excl Food & Energy data was reported at 153.400 2002=100 in Feb 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 152.000 2002=100 for Jan 2025. Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): All Items excl Food & Energy data is updated monthly, averaging 86.200 2002=100 from Jan 1961 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 770 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 153.400 2002=100 in Feb 2025 and a record low of 17.200 2002=100 in Aug 1961. Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): All Items excl Food & Energy data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Canada. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.I009: Core Inflation Index.

Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): Food: Purchased from Restaurants: Fast Food & Take Out data was reported at 192.000 2002=100 in Feb 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 183.500 2002=100 for Jan 2025. Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): Food: Purchased from Restaurants: Fast Food & Take Out data is updated monthly, averaging 106.300 2002=100 from Jan 1985 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 482 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 198.300 2002=100 in Nov 2024 and a record low of 58.900 2002=100 in Jan 1985. Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): Food: Purchased from Restaurants: Fast Food & Take Out data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Canada. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.I002: Consumer Price Index: 2002=100.

From January 2022 to January 2025, the consumer price index (CPI) of food purchased from the store generally increased monthly in every province. In Prince Edward Island, the CPI reached 204.1 by January 2025, making it the highest CPI in Canada in that month.

Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): All Items excl Food data was reported at 157.900 2002=100 in Feb 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 156.600 2002=100 for Jan 2025. Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): All Items excl Food data is updated monthly, averaging 66.150 2002=100 from Jan 1949 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 914 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 157.900 2002=100 in Feb 2025 and a record low of 12.500 2002=100 in Sep 1949. Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): All Items excl Food data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Canada. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.I009: Core Inflation Index.

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Price Index: OECD Groups: All Items Non-Food Non-Energy: Total for Canada (CPGRLE01CAQ657N) from Q2 1961 to Q3 2023 about core, Canada, all items, CPI, inflation, price index, indexes, and price.

According to a survey carried out in Canada in December 2019, some 69 percent of respondents were worried about the rising prices of vegetables due to inflation. In comparison, only one quarter of Canadian respondents were worried about the rising costs of restaurants.

The statistic shows the average inflation rate in Canada from 1987 to 2023, with projections up until 2029. The inflation rate is calculated using the price increase of a defined product basket. This product basket contains products and services, on which the average consumer spends money throughout the year. They include expenses for groceries, clothes, rent, power, telecommunications, recreational activities and raw materials (e.g. gas, oil), as well as federal fees and taxes. In 2022, the average inflation rate in Canada was approximately 6.8 percent compared to the previous year. For comparison, inflation in India amounted to 5.56 percent that same year.

Inflation in Canada

In general, the inflation rate in Canada follows a global trend of decreasing inflation rates since 2011, with the lowest slump expected to occur during 2015, but forecasts show an increase over the following few years. Additionally, Canada's inflation rate is in quite good shape compared to the rest of the world. While oil and gas prices have dropped in Canada much like they have around the world, food and housing prices in Canada have been increasing. This has helped to offset some of the impact of dropping oil and gas prices and the effect this has had on Canada´s inflation rate.

The annual consumer price index of food and non-alcoholic beverages in Canada has been steadily increasing over the last decade. The same is true for housing and other price indexes for the country. In general there is some confidence that the inflation rate will not stay this low for long, it is expected to return to a comfortable 2 percent by 2017 if estimates are correct.

Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): Annual: All Items excl Food & Energy data was reported at 151.100 2002=100 in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 147.300 2002=100 for 2023. Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): Annual: All Items excl Food & Energy data is updated yearly, averaging 85.950 2002=100 from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2024, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 151.100 2002=100 in 2024 and a record low of 17.300 2002=100 in 1961. Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): Annual: All Items excl Food & Energy data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Canada. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.I009: Core Inflation Index.

Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): Food: Purchased from Restaurants data was reported at 194.100 2002=100 in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 187.300 2002=100 for 2023. Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): Food: Purchased from Restaurants data is updated yearly, averaging 82.450 2002=100 from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2024, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 194.100 2002=100 in 2024 and a record low of 10.600 2002=100 in 1961. Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): Food: Purchased from Restaurants data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Canada. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.I005: Consumer Price Index: 2002=100: Annual.

Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): sa: All Items excl Food data was reported at 158.700 2002=100 in Feb 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 157.900 2002=100 for Jan 2025. Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): sa: All Items excl Food data is updated monthly, averaging 112.650 2002=100 from Jan 1992 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 398 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 158.700 2002=100 in Feb 2025 and a record low of 83.300 2002=100 in Jan 1992. Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): sa: All Items excl Food data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Canada. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.I009: Core Inflation Index.

The Consumer Price Index measures changes in the cost of selected food items over time like:

• food purchased from stores
• fresh or frozen beef
• fresh or frozen pork
• fresh or frozen chicken
• dairy products and eggs
• bakery products
• fresh fruit
• fresh vegetables
• food purchased from restaurants

Monthly indexes and percentage changes for major components and special aggregates of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), not seasonally adjusted, for Canada, provinces, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit. Data are presented for the corresponding month of the previous year, the previous month and the current month. The base year for the index is 2002=100.