Canadian Families to Spend Nearly $1,000 More on Food in 2026

Canadian families can expect to spend nearly $1,000 more on food in 2026, according to the annual Canada Food Price Report. The annual forecast predicts that food prices will rise by 4% to 6% nationwide, pushing the average family of four's grocery bill to $17,571.79, an increase of up to $994,63 from 2025. Prices are now 27% higher than five years ago, and one in four households in Canada is considered food insecure. Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia are expected to face above-average increases, according to the report, produced by a coalition of eight Canadian universities that draw on climate, economic, and geopolitical data to forecast food spending and trends.