If you’ve found yourself hesitating over butter, coughing at the coffee counter, or gasping at the chocolate prices lately, you’re not alone.
Food expenses have been on a relentless rise for over a year, with grocery inflation steadily climbing since April 2024, as per Statistics Canada data. In September, shoppers shelled out four per cent more at grocery stores compared to the same period last year.
While overall grocery prices have surged, specific items have hit our wallets harder than others. Beef, coffee, and confectionery stand out as some of the main culprits driving up grocery bills.
Lets delve into some of the priciest grocery items and uncover the reasons behind their steep costs.
Coffee Takes the Lead
As the saying goes, the ones we love the most can sometimes hurt us the most, right? Coffee prices have been skyrocketing for months.
Coffee prices surged by 28.6 per cent over the past year, surpassing all other food items tracked by Statistics Canada’s consumer price index. The cost of roasted or ground coffee spiked by 41 per cent in September compared to the same month last year.
Statistics Canada’s retail data revealed that the average monthly price of 340 grams of roasted or ground coffee has soared by 34 per cent since January. For instance, a 864-gram tub of Maxwell House ground coffee priced at $20 at Loblaws and a 915-gram tub of Nabob Bold priced at a hefty $35.99 at Sobeys.
Even Tim Hortons had to adjust its coffee prices for the first time in three years, increasing the price by approximately three cents per cup, as confirmed by CBC News.
The global price surge earlier this year was attributed to supply disruptions in major coffee-producing countries like Brazil and Vietnam, exacerbated by U.S. tariffs affecting the global coffee market.
Beefing Up Beef
Next on the list is meat, particularly beef, which has witnessed a significant price surge.
The cost of fresh or frozen beef rose by 14 per cent year over year in September. Almost every
