Expect to pay more money at the grocery store.
According to a report released Tuesday by Dalhousie University and the University of Guelph, the average Canadian family will spend $411 more in 2019, an increase of 1.5%-3.5%.
The report’s co-author, Dr. Simon Somogyi, says leading the increase will be vegetables, with prices expected to to climb between 4%-6%.
An expected shift from a La Niña to an El Niño weather pattern will mean drier conditions, particularly in California where much of our produce comes from.
However, Somogyi notes meat and seafood prices are expected to fall, with the meat category to decline by 1%-3% and seafood costs to remain the same or fall up to 2%.
To save money, Somogyi recommends buying local fruits and vegetables in season, avoid daily trips to restaurants and only buy the food you need.
