Food prices rise nearly 10 percent as Canadian inflation hits 31-year high

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      Inflation is taking a big bite off the food budget of Canadians.

      Food prices increased 9.7 percent in April 2022 compared to the same month last year as inflation in the country hit a 31-year high.

      Prices of consumer goods rose 6.8 percent in April, the highest increase since January 1991, when prices jumped 6.9 percent.

      “On a year-over-year basis, increases in food prices have been broad-based, with consumers paying more for nearly everything at the grocery store,” Statistics Canada stated in a report Wednesday (May 18).

      It cited as examples fresh fruit (10 percent), fresh vegetables (8.2 percent) and meat (10.1 percent), which were “all more expensive in April compared with a year earlier”.

      In addition, prices of starchy foods increased: bread (12.2 percent), pasta (19.6 percent), rice (7.4 percent), and cereal products (13.9 percent) also increased.

      “Additionally, a cup of coffee (+13.7%) cost more in April 2022 than in April 2021,” Statistics Canada reported.

      The federal agency noted that inflation last month was “largely driven by food and shelter prices”.

      “In April, shelter costs rose 7.4% year over year, the fastest pace since June 1983, following a 6.8% increase in March,” Statistics Canada reported.

      The increase in gasoline prices slowed down last month.

      “Year over year, consumers paid 36.3% more for gasoline in April compared with 39.8% in March,” Statistics Canada stated.

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