Overview
- For a typical family of four, annual food costs are projected to rise by about $994.63 to roughly $17,571.79.
- Meat is expected to post the biggest increases, with beef potentially up as much as 7% as tight supplies persist into 2027 and substitution pushes up chicken and pork prices.
- The 16th annual report, produced by Dalhousie’s Agri‑Food Analytics Lab with university partners, uses a single standardized model after last year’s forecast largely matched CPI outcomes.
- Restaurants are also forecast to face 4%–6% price growth, raising menu prices and straining already pressured operators.
- Drivers cited include trade and tariff risks, climate events, shifts in manufacturing and retail, labour conditions and macro factors, with regional impacts varying and food insecurity already elevated.