Grocery prices to see 'significant' jump in February: report
Lately, if you’ve been lucky, grocery stores near you have been serving up some tasty deals.
At a No Frills near me not long ago, for instance, All Dressed Crispers were on sale for $1 a bag, which may or may not have turned me into a mix of Charlie Sheen, the Tasmanian Devil and an Egyptian protestor after having his Internet cut off.
And apparently, I haven’t just been seeing things. According to the Star, Canadian groceries have been very competitively-priced in the first weeks of 2011. Of course, the paper also reports a big Eff You is coming soon to your local supermarket.
Indeed, in spite of some fair deals this January, tomorrow is February and perhaps the dawn of a new Canadian grocery era. Eric La Flèche, president and CEO of Ontario/Quebec supermarket chain Metro Inc., tells the Star food prices are set to take off across Canada next month.
“In certain categories we’re expecting some pretty significant increases,” he said. Pasta and bread, specifically, may go up, by La Flèche’s estimate. Potash Corp. boss Bill Doyle seems to back up the CEO's projections.
Why are retail prices spiking, you ask? Food costs themselves are shooting up, the Star reports. Grains, oilseeds and sugar, to name a few, are all at peak levels not seen since 2008, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Because of that, the cost of a basket of food basics jumped 25 per cent in December, and retailers are set to pass those higher product costs onto consumers soon.
At your grocer, have prices started to jump from earlier in the year? If so, by how much?
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: Stephainie Hart | Jan 31, 2022 9:14:35 AM
Prices have been going up everywhere and will continue to do so. We need to stop the lifestyle we are living.
People who collect welfare checks may live in ghettos but on the inside they have top of the line stereos and tvs...dvds/blu-rays...not just one computer but at least two...ipods and such. And it is not JUSt the poor that are living well beyond their means!
Everyone is concerned only for themselves (even when they have dependants) as well as the here and now not to mention that everyone wants to be king (present company excluded).
Everything about all we are and what we have around us is about balance and right now there is absolutely no balance. We need to have kings, but, we also need to have paupers. We need to have choas but we also need discipline. We need to have playtime but we also need to work.
The only way prices are going to stop going up is if people reign in their spending and really start focusing on we not me. Until then, all we are doing is being the ultimate catalysts to our own end.
Posted by: Albertan | Jan 31, 2022 9:56:48 AM
Lol at "Grains, oilseeds and sugar, to name a few, are all at peak levels not seen since 2008" causing increased food prices.
Right now wheat is at about $10 a bushel. It has recently been as low as $7.50. A 33% increase sounds pretty big right. Well lets consider a bushel of wheat weighs about 60 pounds and it traditionally takes about 1 pound of wheat to make a loaf of bread. So the wheat in that loaf you bought used to cost $0.125 (when a loaf it total costs about $1.30) and it now costs $.166. To put it in economic terms, if you consume 2 loaves of bread a week this increase will cost you $4.26 extra a year. Not exactly earth shattering. Any further increase in your prices is just the supply chain increasing their profit margins on the basis of laughible "higher grain prices." I love how everybody automatically blames the producers when there is higher prices when it is very rarely true.
Also it is pretty easy to understand why prices are going up. In 2008 & 2009 the world had world record grain crops both years. It was only these huge years that allowed the world to produce more food than it consumed. 2010 was an "average year." In this average year the world is going to consume more food than it creates. You ask what has changed. One is that the US is now using 1/3 of their corn crop for ethanol. They are one of several countries that have taken food producing land and converted it over for "environment" reasons. In a record year this isn't an issue but in an "average" growing year its meant sharply lower ending stocks.
So what is this going to lead too? Tunisia and Egypt are great examples. In poor countries where large amounts of the population earns under $2 a day they are going to revolt. They buy straight grain. When the price goes up 33% they eat 33% less. This year will be marked by a lot of 3rd world countries governments collapsing.
Posted by: carl | Jan 31, 2022 10:08:37 AM
Do you suppose fuel prices going up has something to do with it????
Posted by: Schultz | Jan 31, 2022 10:08:39 AM
With food prices ever on the increase, especially for fresh fruit and vegetables, along with the expectation of grain based products to rise, people should shop smarter than ever. If you have several major stores in your neighbourhood, shop them all as they are usually located fairly close to one another. Don't forget the small mom and pop stores, they are still around and often times can offer great value. Using coupons also works, but it does take time. Another major area where people can save is to cut down on their food spoilage or overcooking and throwing away the extras. It is estimated the average family wastes up to 30% of their food through spoilage, etc. Keep shopping smarter!
Posted by: randy | Jan 31, 2022 10:31:00 AM
WOW Stephainie Hart I cannot believe I just read that.As far as I know your average prrson on welfare gets 550 a month for food and shelter.So you are the KING of ignorance!Prices keep going up in my town.I have a modest orchard and my expenditures go up every year labour sprays etc.It only stands to reason prices are increasing at the store shelf.
Posted by: Lindsay | Jan 31, 2022 11:07:40 AM
At least we have competition in regards to groceries . There is always the option to shop around.
What people are not grasping enough of is the never-ending downsize going on . 450g turning into 400g , 400g turning into 350g , but charging same retail price. It is not the retailers but is the manufacturers to blame. They say they do this to hold pricing, but with less consumer is paying more per standard unit .
Posted by: c morris | Jan 31, 2022 11:12:31 AM
Why don't the grocers give us back the sundry cost dollars saved by passing on the expense of bags?
Oh, BECAUSE THEY INVENT WAYS TO LIE TO US AND LINE THEIR OWN POCKETS!!! AND INFLUENCE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE IT LEGAL!!!!
The harsh reality is that everyone has to eat, and the surest way to gauge a consumer is at the grocery store. Check out CBC's 'Marketplace' episode on package sizing versus shelf price.
I would be curious to see the Weston family's T4's for the last 30 years; you know, the ones who own the all Loblaw banner stores, plus the supply and production chains; and are also deeply entrenched in government to make this legal.
This is what happened right before the Russian and especially French Revolutions. We can't afford bread anymore, and hopefully won't stand (much longer) the "let them eat cake" treatment we are getting.
Posted by: DianeA | Jan 31, 2022 11:22:26 AM
Hoy,
I am a peosioner, and, that's what i used to by the most to make it through the month; bread and pasta. Now what are we going to buy, the plastic bags. Even there, they charge you 0.5 cents each. My goodness. When the water going to become an issue?\
Posted by: Mike | Jan 31, 2022 11:22:52 AM
Stephanie I will not call you ignorant, I just wish you knew what was going on. In alot of cases welfare checks go to the the only adult in the house which in alot of cases this adult is single parent who may be addicted to drugs or alcohol so alot of the check goes to pay for that. And the litt le leftover goes for food. The stereos and T/Vs are probably bought "hot" by the teenagers in the house or they steal them theirselves. Why do they steal? Because they want to feel normal and have a Ipod like the ones they see blasted all over commercials or the ones they see other richer kids have.
Also please people never shop at Wal-Mart, the reasons the prices are so low is beacause they don't allow unions and pay there worker's very low.
Posted by: DianeA | Jan 31, 2022 11:36:34 AM
Hey Randy,
I need to know where you live. Where I live, and, work as a Welfare officer volunteer. One person gets 888.63$ monthly for food and shelter, with a med card to get most of their prescriptions paid. I work at trying to help people around me, and I know even that amount is never enough. We have Low income housing, special price for hydro in those places. If they are subsidized, you only pay 25% of your total income, minus a % from the government. People still can't make it. I go from house to house on my list, and, can't bear to see that we're down that low. As for the person who accuses welfare people who have it all INSIDE; Those are exceptions, don't generalize and judge to easily. I'm sure you haven't been there, or you could be realistic, and, look upon yourself. Takes one to know one. What say you know?
Posted by: Venus Project | Jan 31, 2022 11:43:36 AM
Imperial Oil, profit, up 50%.
Exxon, profit, up 53%.
Food prices going up? To feed big oil, not people. To make the elite richer, and enslave everyone else.
The world monetary-market system is set up to fail, and soon. It is happening now, all over the world, and will continue to the total economic collapse that is looming and guaranteed.
Please educate yourself on what is happening, and that there is a sustainable plan for the survival of the planet.
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Spread the word about the Zeitgeist Movement and the Venus Project. Humanity depends on you.
Posted by: robert | Jan 31, 2022 11:44:26 AM
That's funny that METRO is going to jack their prices. They are already price gouging their customers already. When you walk into any METRO store you might as well walk in all bent over so they can give it to you.
Posted by: dz in ottawa | Jan 31, 2022 11:48:10 AM
the world needs a lot more stephainie harts, imo. we need to tighten-up. government needs to be reeled-in as well. we started raising rabbits as a meat source; we installed a wood stove to eliminate our dependancy on heating oil; we grow a garden; and we make our own wine in the basement to keep a few less tax dollars going to dalton. and guess who does all of this for us? NO ONE ... listen folks - china's laughing at us, AND they're coming, so a word of advice for all of you cry-babies ... toughen up !
Posted by: lux et adytum | Jan 31, 2022 12:26:46 PM
everyone look now at the increased demand for energy and resources around the world there is not enough for all of us to live a capitialist dream resource depletion and fiat currency to blame if anything we need to secure ourselves start communicating your issues with government instead of government listening to the elites and the elites philantrophic groups whom pressure the government from both sides so they can look out for thier well being in a communist mao style de populated world. lets all stick together or we will be dog meat.
Posted by: IamWhateverYouThinkIam | Jan 31, 2022 12:54:47 PM
Stepahainie Hart how is it you know ALL the welfare people? Do you have a long list and make your daily rounds checking for gadgets owned by welfare people that aren't worth sh*t for resale. Your lazy, spinless thinking is as deficient as DZs in Ottawa. You think pensioners (fixed income) deserve this crap?
You don't know have a background in anything useful as evidenced by your obtuse comments and yet you parade it like everything that comes out of your mouth as right. If Stepahainie Hart says it IT must be true. Since you don't have the resources (brains) to go after the real source of the problem and evoke you change, you just do what's normal for you, and run off at the mouth abusing whomever because YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW to do anything differently, nor do you have the guts to learn to do anything differently. Kings and paupers? That's your politics? Think this economy hasn't or isn't going to touch you - Stephainie Hart? There's going to come a time when you're going to wish you kept your mouth shut and there ain't gunna be anyone to help you and yours...but again, you're far too obtuse to see the writing on THAT wall.
Posted by: Joane Blanks | Jan 31, 2022 1:14:40 PM
I know someone will eventually blame food prices on ethanol. Ethanol is not the cause of this spike or any other spike. In fact because of ethanol, farmers are now compensated and that alone has provided more food around the globe. So why are the prices so high? Oil!!! At $90 a barrel food would spike!
Posted by: IamWhateverYouThinkIam | Jan 31, 2022 1:28:27 PM
Okay Shultz, we'll keep taking it in the a*s*s, but in the meatime be better shoppers for your sake. An expert on food spoilage in EVERYONE'S houshold are ya? Did you google food spoilage statistics or do you have a long list that takes you house to house checking the kitchens of people everywhere looking for evidence to support your "facts". OPEN YOUR EYES do research beyond the 1st three entries on google.
To Mike - you have the right idea about Walmart BUT, I think it's the suppliers FOR Walmart that have to be leaned on not the stores themselves. Walmart is so huge THAT THEY DICTATE to the suppliers what they'll pay NOT the other way around. Small businesses everwhere need to have a convention and sort out how they can compete TOGETHER. The bigger the order the cheaper it is. The suppliers have to cooperate by putting a caps on orders that go beyond normal usage to downright monopoly. It's capatilisitc enough to work.
Posted by: Dan | Jan 31, 2022 1:34:33 PM
It's all because of the HST!!!
Posted by: IamWhateverYouThinkIam | Jan 31, 2022 1:43:29 PM
To Diana A - the welfare rates Randy quoted ($550.00) for a single person sounds like my area - BC. One bedroom starts at $650 and up. I know out here we have a problem of people losing there jobs en masse and going on unemployment and welfare to piss off the so-called hard working taxpayers just because. Hours for an average constuction worker needed for unemployment insurance in BC at this time is just under 500 - that should speak volumes to the so-called hard working taxpayers posting here but it goes right over their heads.
Posted by: Godiscoming | Jan 31, 2022 1:48:39 PM
This has already been predicted in the bible. Things are only suppose to get worst. The day that it will get better is when jesus comes on Earth and takes his beleivers with him. Please get SAVED now before its too late. God will never leave you nor forsake you. Devote your life to him and he will protect you from the wrath to come.