HALIFAX – Whenever Halifax shopper Mary Coady goes to the grocery store, at best food prices appear to be unchanged. “They are definitely staying the same, or going up, but they are not going down,” said Coady. “I am not feeling a drop in prices, not at all.” According to Statistics Canada, food inflation dropped to 3.1 per cent in July, down from 3.9 per cent the previous month. Chicken and fresh vegetables saw a slower rise in prices. Cereal products and vegetables have gone down in price while fresh fruit, most notably berries and melons, are now more expensive. Grocery store inflation has now outpaced the rise in the overall consumer price index in Canada for 18 straight months. “We are still seeing pressure on grocery prices and food,” said Signal49 Research’s chief economist Pedro Antunes. “The inflation pressures on households, is still problematic for many households in Canada.” The high cost of food continues to contribute to an ongoing affordability crisis in Canada. “I feel for a lot of people, families in particular,” Coady. “And people on fixed incomes and seniors.” CTV News went shopping to examine first-hand how costly some items are, including breakfast cereals, berries, pasta, bananas, and bread. The total price was $99.67, which amounted to barely enough to fill two small grocery bags. Things have become so expensive that shopper Brennan Dempsey is getting creative, as he tries to save money. “I have not really noticed them,” said Dempsey when asked if he seen any cheaper prices in the grocery store. Dempsey said as food costs climb, it has dramatically changed his buying habits. “I have been going to Walmart because I noticed it is a bit cheaper and when I go to Costco, I try to buy in bulk and then try to freeze things, and I now do a lot of googling of what can be frozen, and for how long,” said Dempsey, who added, when prices drop slightly, it is often not noticed. The high cost of food has also forced him to shop around for the best deals, be selective, and only buy the essential items he needs.
