Food prices soaring. Food prices keep rising. Food prices challenging cooling inflation.
You've heard us repeat this in different ways lately, and perhaps it's starting to sound like a tired refrain. But the fact remains: food is expensive. And even if the Canadians didn't have also changed their shopping habits – although many have done so – they've probably at least noticed that their grocery bills seem to be much higher than usual lately.
Annual inflation rate in Canada remained unchanged in November, but food inflation reached its highest level in almost two years. Statistics Canada said on Monday, from t.Prices for food purchased at stores rose 4.7 percent in November compared with the same period last year.
But which foods will hit your grocery bills the hardest this holiday season?
There are a few repeat offenders, such as beef and coffee, but the cost of some other items, such as lettuce, may come as a bit of a surprise. But there is at least one piece of good news for those planning a traditional Christmas dinner.
Let's take a look at which staple foods these days taste like champagne.
Shocked by coffee prices
At this point it just seems cruel.
But after a few months soaring coffee pricesthey jumped again in November. The cost of roasted or ground coffee is up 3.1 percent since October and up as much as 36.4 percent year-over-year.
That's the biggest annual increase of any food item that Statistics Canada tracks in its Consumer Price Index, making roasted or ground coffee the winner, and for those of us with caffeine addictions, well… you know.
But why? Earlier this year World prices reached record levels due to shortages in major producing countries such as Brazil and Vietnam. At the same time, US tariffs on goods from Brazil have upended the global coffee market, pushing prices higher.
Canada's overall inflation rate has fallen, but food prices continue to rise at the fastest pace in nearly two years. Experts say food prices are likely to be volatile over the next few years.
When CBC News checked various grocery store websites Thursday, the average price for a large can of ground coffee was about $25, depending on the brand and quantity.
For example, 930 grams “President's Choice”. ground coffee was $25.99 at Loblaws, 930 grams of Nabob Roasted Coffee was $24.99 at Loblaws. Nutrition Basics (on sale from $29.99), 900 grams of Maxwell House are $19.97 at Walmart, and 865 grams of Folgers cost $24.99. Sobeys.
If you're looking for a more specific brand, it's even worse: 825 grams of Tim Hortons roasted ground coffee costs $32.99 in the US. Metro.
Salad explain
Salad, really? But yes, leafy green salad toppings rocketed straight into the No. 2 spot in annual grocery sales growth in November.
The price of lettuce increased by 26.8 percent compared to November last year and by 25.5 percent compared to October. It's reminiscent of 2022, when lettuce prices skyrocketed so much that some restaurants had to… remove greens from the menu.
So what happened?
Southern California, which produces most of North America's lettuce in November, had a difficult season, said Michael von Massow, a professor of food agriculture at the University of Guelph in Ontario.
Growers had problems with disease and weather conditions that affected quality and yield, he said.
“When there's a problem in Southern California, prices plummet because there's no good place to replace it,” von Massow told CBC News.
But he says he expects prices to correct soon as production moved further east to Arizona in December, will continue to move into Florida in January and then continue up the East Coast.
Tall steaks
How many food puns can we fit into one story before someone stops us? Let's not dwell on this.
CBC News covered in detail high price of beef. Overall, meat prices rose at the fastest rate of any food category in 2025, driven by rising costs of beef, according to recent national food price report Dalhousie University in Halifax.
And the new November numbers are no different: the cost of fresh or frozen beef is up 17.7% year over year.
Some cuts were more serious violations than others. Beef cuts were up 21.9 percent from last November, fresh stew beef was up 19 percent and fresh or frozen ground beef was up 18.7 percent.
A new study from Dalhousie University predicts overall food prices in Canada will rise 4 to 6 percent in 2026, with the biggest jump expected for beef as some ranchers exit the industry.
High demand, drought and international trade all affect prices. Pconstant droughts herds dwindling in Western Canadaand the cost of feed is higher. In addition, according to the Canadian ministry, more ranchers are leaving the industry. Food Price Report.
But beef isn't the only culprit. In November, consumption of almost all types of meat increased: from chicken and bacon to shrimp. Pork shoulder cuts were up 17.5%, the biggest increase from last year.
What about my favorite holiday treats?
As for the rest, we have good news and bad news. As a reminder, these are November numbers. We won't have CPI data for December until January 19th. First the bad:
The following goods were more expensive in November this year compared to last year:
- Cookies for Santa (cookies and crackers increased in price by 7.8%).
- Carrots for Rudolph (but not by much: 1.2%).
- Oranges instead of the toe of your stocking (up 7.9%).
- Nutcracker nuts (up eight percent).
- Dried fruits for muffins (up 7.8%).
- Sweets, for visions of sugar plums (confectionery products increased in price by 11.2%).
- Fish for the Feast of the Seven Fishes (3.8% increase).
- Buns are the only food your child will eat (up 2.2%).
- Takeout when you give up (up to 5 percent).
But these holiday favorites were cheaper, albeit slightly:
- Potatoes for latkes (down 0.7%).
- Onions for stuffing (15.6% reduction!).
- Eggnog eggs (down 1.9%).
- Cheddar cheese for cheese balls/emotional eating (down 2.2%).
- Baking flour (decrease by 4.5%).
- Rice, tomatoes and peppers for jollof rice (down 0.3, 5.8 and 4.3 percent respectively).
And finally, drum roll… turkey, which falls into the “other fresh or frozen poultry” category on the Consumer Price Index, fell 1.4 percent in November compared with November of last year.
In the previous application for CBC News last weekTürkiye Canadian farmers said that so far prices in Canada are very similar to last year. Whole turkey prices range from $0.99 to $3.33 per pound, with an average price of $2.29 per pound in early December, according to the group.
“Although production has been slightly down this year due to factors such as bird flu, there are currently no concerns about holiday supplies,” it said. “Canadians can be confident that they will find a turkey option at the store at a consistent price.”
We will give you the opportunity to enjoy the good news and have a good time.
