Inflation is on the rise throughout the country, and grocery bills are one way residents are noticing a big hit.
According to Statistics Canada, over the past year, food prices in the country have risen 9.7 per cent, and more than two in five Canadians reported being most affected by rising food prices.
Savanna Koenig, a newlywed and two-year resident of Fort Saskatchewan, shared with MIX 107 that grocery shopping causes her great stress.
“I just feel bad for the other young couples and other young people in our situation. The economy sucks right now, and buying food should not have to be something you have to worry about every single week or month. It’s crazy right now,” explained Koenig.
She added that her shopping trips now consist of visiting multiple stores to find the best deal. A lot of her free time is spent looking at flyers and gathering coupons just to save every dollar.
Statistics Canada also reported that the consumer price index for food costs is the third highest category on the rise due to inflation at 15.94 per cent from last year, just behind transportation at 16.91 per cent.
“It makes me really, really anxious and nervous to even go shopping.”
Karina Lim, a stay-at-home mother of a disabled daughter and two-year resident of Fort Saskatchewan, said she feels a lot of the same anxiousness about grocery shopping for her household of five.
“We used to just spend $400 a month, and now we are spending close to $800 a month. It’s really hit the pocket a lot,” said Lim.
Lim’s shopping habits have changed, particularly regarding how much meat she can add to her cart. Meat has gone up 2.14 per cent from last year, and she explained that it is one of the more common items she has to leave behind.
“I just usually go for the sale prices, and I try to stock up as much as I can.”
More information on food inflation rates can be found here.