Survey Shows Canadians Turning to Savings, Promotions, and Cheaper Options Amid Rising Food Prices

Researchers at Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab released the latest Canadian Food Sentiment Index, revealing shifts in how Canadians perceive and cope with rising food prices. The twice-yearly survey of 3,000 people across Canada tracks spending and strategies at grocery stores.

CBC reported that respondents ranked food as the household expense that has risen the most in the past year.

About one third of respondents drew on savings or borrowed money to cover food costs over the past year. 3 per cent in fall 2024. 4 per cent to 31 per cent between fall 2024 and spring 2026.

4 per cent. He noted that the ongoing war between Israel, the United States, and Iran has driven up global fuel prices, likely to push food costs higher. The average Canadian household spends about $600 a month on food, according to Charlebois.

A family of four with growing kids will spend about $17,000 on food this year based on forecasts. About 44 per cent of respondents rely on promotions as of spring 2026. More trade-down behavior is evident, such as choosing cheaper canned protein options like lentils, sardines, and tuna instead of fresh meat, Charlebois said.

He added, 'I would say that two years ago ... Now, he continued, 'people are a little bit more strategic. These national trends echo personal stories, such as that of Claire Acorn, a Prince Edward Island resident who shops for groceries every two to three weeks and sticks to familiar foods.

Claire Acorn said, 'Oh, it hurts, yes,' regarding rising prices. Her daughter, Charlotte Acorn, grows her own garden, producing carrots, green beans, yellow beans, and cucumbers in the summer, then preserves them for winter. Charlotte Acorn describes herself as always a sale finder.

Charlotte Acorn obtains fish from local markets and chicken from a grocer she knows.