N.B. sees largest jump in food prices in Canada, N.S. records the smallest: study

A new survey is showing the impact of inflation on food prices in the Maritimes.

New Brunswick shoppers are facing the worst food inflation in the country, according to a new study.

At 3.7 per cent, New Brunswick topped the list, with Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Prince Edward Island rounding out the top five – according to Dollarwise’s report which analyzed data from Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index reports, comparing year-over-year price changes from May 2024 to May 2025.

A leading expert on national food prices says it’s not uncommon to see higher prices in Atlantic Canada.

“Most food that is actually consumed in New Brunswick is not made in New Brunswick and that’s the reality of the Atlantic overall,” said Sylvain Charlebois, Agri-Food and Analytics lab director at Dalhousie University.

“I do think that the Atlantic is probably one of the most underserved markets in Canada with the exclusion of the north of course. So, it’s always challenging. Year to year you’ll often see higher prices in the Atlantic.”

Beef is one of the most expensive food items right now, jumping by 12.7 per cent. The cost of coffee and tea has also risen by 12.8 per cent and oranges by 15.8 per cent.

“It doesn’t leave a lot for anything else,” said shopper Garth Furlong, from Scodouc, N.B.

Jack Prenter, CEO of Dollarwise, says many Canadian families already struggle to make ends meet.

“These food price hikes make things worse,” says Prenter. “What’s particularly troubling is beef, with some provinces now paying nearly a quarter more than they did last year.”

Furlong, along with Marie-Josee Bouchard, make sure to shop around. A typical grocery run includes a trip to the value produce stand, the discount store and a stop at an independent, family-owned grocer.

“Wherever the best prices, that’s where we’re going. We go through the flyers and that’s how we make our budget,” said Marie-Josee Bouchard.

Prenter is advising families to shift their shopping habits to include items with stable prices.

“Not all food categories face the same increases,” he said.

Nova Scotia showed the lowest increase in food prices between May 2024 and May 2025, rising just 2.7 per cent.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Derek Haggett.