The Big Story Will grocery prices ever come down?
Dec 6, 2025
Sylvain Charlebois, a leading food price expert and professor at Dalhousie University, shares insights on the future of grocery costs. He reveals that families are projected to spend an additional $1,000 next year, primarily due to rising meat prices linked to climate change and industry consolidation. Charlebois discusses how Canadians are adapting their shopping habits, visiting more stores and embracing discount retailers. He also examines the potential impact of new codes of conduct on stabilizing inflation in food prices.
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Food Prices Projected To Keep Rising
- Dalhousie forecasts food prices will rise 4–6% in 2026, pushing five-year inflation near 30%.
- Sylvain Charlebois warns this reflects persistent structural pressures, not a short blip.
Beef Shortages Will Keep Prices High
- Beef is the major driver due to low herd sizes and continental drought conditions.
- Charlebois expects beef prices to remain elevated until at least mid‑2027.
Climate And Policy Both Matter
- Climate-triggered drought was the primary catalyst for the meat price surge.
- Charlebois criticizes Ottawa's silence and limited action on beef imports compared with U.S. moves.