In Dalhousie University’s study, it is anticipated that food prices will see an increase between three to five per cent in 2021.
Provinces like British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and P.E.I will be affected the most.
Dalhousie states that based on a family that includes a man (age 31–50), woman (age 31– 50), boy (age 14–18), and girl (age 9–13), the annual food expenditure is predicted to be $13,907 in 2021.
This would be an increase of $695 (five per cent) compared to 2020, excluding food service. In dollars, that is the highest predicted increase by Canada’s Food Price Report.
Canadian food prices have been increasing for many years but the jump from 2020 to 2021 was the highest predicted.
This is due to the continuing loss of the food manufacturing sector, the national ban on some single-use plastics, continued actions to mitigate the effects of climate change, and the impact of the U.S. presidential election outcome on food policy and our currency.
Foods like meat and vegetables are set to be hit with the biggest increases over the past year.
COVID-19 and food prices
The swift changes of COVID-19 caused prices to rise and caused the anticipation of the biggest rise in food prices for one year.
According to a survey conducted by Deloitte found out that 66 per cent of all the respondents said that they have started to cook home-cooked meals since the last year and this is due to COVID-19 lockdowns.
Since more people are starting to cook at home and prices continue to rise it will be difficult for people to continue making home-cooked meals as they increase the prices of foods.
Canadians are being tasked with adapting to rapid changes in food pricing. There will be changes in what they will buy in terms of different products and cheaper brands.
Finding a balance for the food they buy will be a challenge for this upcoming year as prices continue to rise.
Story by Galchaa Gormu/RSJ
