iN NUMBERS: Food prices in BC expected to continue rising in 2026

Most people have been walking through the grocery store this year, excited to buy one of their favourite foods, and been hit with the realization that the price has risen again.

It’s hard to quantify the change in price with your own anecdotal experience, unless you keep a diary of every time you get upset in the meat section.

Statistics Canada, and a separate report from experts at various Canadian universities, have tracked the numbers for you: 

• 16,577: Dollars was how much the average Canadian family of four spent on food in 2025. 
• 17,571: Dollars is how much experts expect the average Canadian family of four to spend on food in 2026. 
• 674: Dollars was the cost of a basket including every food item tracked by Statistics Canada in BC in 2024.
• 716: Dollars was the cost of a basket including every food item tracked by Statistics Canada in BC in 2025.
• 6.4: Dollars was the increase in the average price for a kilogram of beef striploin in BC between October 2024 and October 2025. 
• 27: Per cent is the increase in food prices in Canada since 2020.
• 3.4: Per cent was the increase in food prices in Canada over the course of 2025. 
• 7.2: Per cent was the increase in the price of meat in Canada in 2025. 
• 2.2: Million Canadians visited food banks in 2025.
• 25: Cents was the increase in cost for a litre of ketchup in BC for 2025. That’s some good news for you if you like french fries.