Saskatchewan’s food inflation the worst in Canada, expert says

Saskatchewan may be the most affordable option when it comes to buying a home, but when it comes to a trip to the grocery store it’s the most expensive, according to food expert Sylvain Charlebois.

Charlebois is the director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University in Halifax. director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University in Halifax.

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On Monday Statistics Canada said the annual rate of inflation in Canada accelerated to 2.4 per cent in March, due to soaring fuel costs because of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

But while StatsCan said food inflation across the country cooled to four per cent from 5.4 per cent in February, Charlebois says it is worse in Saskatchewan than anywhere else.

On social media, Charlebois ranked each province’s food inflation, and Saskatchewan sat at the top of the list with 4.9 per cent, followed by Alberta with 4.8 per cent and Manitoba with 4.7 per cent.

Prince Edward Island had the lowest food inflation with 2.8 per cent.

While the Prairies top food inflation list right now, Charlebois said that likely won’t be the case for the foreseeable future.

“I think it’s more of a cycle thing, because last year you were at the bottom. That’s one thing that tends to happen with provinces,” he said.

“We are expecting food inflation to drop in Saskatchewan this year, at least below the rate that it is now.”

Charlebois said Saskatchewan shares a lot of similar trends to the rest of the country when it comes to which foods are seeing a rise in price.

“If you look at what’s up in Saskatchewan, it’s mainly the same thing as other places in Canada. And that would be produce and meat products,” he said.

“Chicken has been a bit of an issue for Saskatchewan. Chicken prices have gone up for all Prairie provinces —the one thing that we’ve noticed is that out west, quotas haven’t been matched in terms of production for several cycles, and that tends to push prices higher.”

Charlebois also ranked the foods that are driving up those costs, with cucumbers at No. 1 with an increase of 28.4 per cent, followed by coffee at 18 per cent, tomatoes at 14.3 percent, fresh or frozen beef at 12.7 per cent, and lettuce at 11.7 per cent.

He said that a lot of increases can likely be attributed to a change in procurement.

“My guess is that grocers had to procure these foods elsewhere and farther than the U.S., and with fuel charges, my guess is that it just added up,” he said.

“… because we’re procuring food differently, prices were impacted as a result one year later. So I think that’s what’s going on right now.”

— with files by Roman Hayter

Read more:

• Federal pause on gasoline, diesel tax takes effect today, after Iran fuel price spike
• Saskatoon Food Bank boosted through Rock 102’s Stuff the Bus campaign
• Food Banks of Saskatchewan campaign aims to raise awareness, funds