Darn! That grocery bill keeps on climbing inflation hill
The grocery bill in our home has doubled in the last five years.
Some adjustments were made by both of us, including fewer looks when Housemate buys some items on sale. My partner now sees more value in buying lots when the stuff is on sale.
The roommate keeps telling her that the savings listed on the bill are exactly what the store overcharged in the first place.
And we’ve found a few things pretty good always cheaper at other stores. The roommate occasionally makes a trip to a store to ostensibly go inside, but returns with some items that are fewer than at our regular place of purchase.
We eat out a lot less than we used to.
We’re lucky not to buy a lot of meat and occasionally get lucky in the Elk and Legion Meat Raffles. They’re fun and a way to reduce grocery bills.
(Moose Meat Draw takes place in the Legion Lounge on Friday at 5:30pm and Legion Meat Draw in the Lounge on Saturday at 3:00pm. You don’t have to be a member to come.)
The 2023 Canadian Food Prices Report, led by Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab, is interesting.
The report points out that last year’s estimated food price increases of mostly five to seven percent were already at 10.3 percent at the end of September.
Baked goods were up nearly 15 percent; Vegetables rose nearly 13 percent and fruit rose 11 percent.
Estimated food price increases for 2023 range from five to seven percent for baked goods, dairy and meat, to 3.5 percent for fruit, six to eight percent for seafood and vegetables, and 4.5 percent for restaurants.
A family of four will spend an additional $1,065.60 on groceries over the next year — about $21 a week.
Our house has replaced some name brands with house brands; checks expiration dates more closely to ensure we don’t have stale food, and we’re even more diligent about eating ALL leftovers.
Nevertheless, the food bill keeps climbing this inflation hill.
Incidentally, Saskatchewan has the second-lowest food price inflation this year at 10.3 percent, beaten only by BC at 9.3 percent. Quebec was highest at 11 percent. Guess they use too much maple syrup down there.
The report concludes that, for the many reasons set out, no one can be held responsible for food price inflation. Over time, fertilizer, grain and fossil fuel prices could fall as global conflicts in Europe are resolved.
As the federal tax on carbon emissions increases by $17 per ton annually, the $170 per ton tax will increase the cost of a 5,000-acre farm by $150,000 by 2030.
It looks like we’re going to be stuck with persistent food price inflation for a long time.
Ron Walter can be reached at [email protected]
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
