Inflation at the Grocery Store

February 22, 2024

Due to inflation and supply chain issues, the prices of groceries have increased drastically in the last few years. From February 16 to 18, 2024, we surveyed Canadians to find out their opinion and perceptions on the increasing prices of groceries.

Download the report to learn more.

Some of the key highlights of our survey about grocery prices in Canada include…

  • Canadians generally attribute the increase in grocery prices to global economic phenomena (such as global inflation and supply chain issues) (27%), followed by attempts by grocery chains to increase profit margins (26%), and the federal government (23%). Quebecers are more likely to attribute the price increase to global economic phenomena (36%), while Albertans are more likely to attribute it to the federal government.
  • Nearly two-thirds of Canadians (64%) think that the inflation rate in groceries is getting worse, compared to 28% who think it is about the same, and 5% who think that grocery inflation is improving. Respondents living in the Atlantic provinces (77%) are more likely to say that the situation has worsened.
  • Nearly one-quarter of Canadians (23%) found the grocery rebate from last July helpful, while more than half (52%) did not find it helpful, and 20% say they were unaware of the rebate. Canadians with an annual income of less than $40K are more likely to have found the rebate helpful (33%).
  • Almost three-quarters of Canadians (72%) believe that the Federal government should do more to help Canadians with the rising cost of groceries, against 19% who believe it is not their role, and 8% who are unsure. Canadians with an annual income of less than $40K (78%) are more likely to think the government should help, and Canadians with an annual income of $100K (26%) or more are more likely to think that it is not the government’s role.
  • Half of Canadians (52%) believe that the arrival of new competitors in Canada will be helpful in reducing grocery prices, while one-third (34%) believe it will not be helpful.

Methodology

This web survey was conducted from February 16 to 18, 2024, with 1,529 Canadians aged 18 or older, randomly recruited from LEO’s online panel. A margin of error cannot be associated with a non-probability sample in a panel survey. For comparison, a probability sample of 1,529 respondents would have a margin of error of ±2.51 %, 19 times out of 20.

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