Beef + Other Foods to Get More Expensive Next Year

The ongoing affordability crisis Canadians are currently facing shows no signs of improving. According to the Food Price Report 2026, Canadians can expect to pay an additional $994.63 on their food purchases next year. This situation is particularly concerning for the one-quarter of Canadian households that are food insecure and struggling to put meals on the table.

The 16th edition of Canada’s Food Price Annual Report (2026), released today, delivers a dire warning to Canadians: brace yourselves. Grocery shopping is projected to become even more challenging next year.

The report predicts an overall food price increase of 4% to 6%, with an average family of four expected to spend $17,571.79 on food in 2026, up $994.63 from the previous year. It is also important to note that food prices are already 27% higher than they were five years ago.

Several factors are contributing to this rise in food prices, including trade disputes with the United States, shifts in the food manufacturing and retail landscape, labour market conditions, policy changes, climate change, and the outlook for the Canadian dollar, among others.

For meat lovers, the news is particularly troubling. In Toronto, beef prices are anticipated to rise by 5% to 7% in 2026, with tight beef supply expected to continue through 2027. This increase stems from a drought in Western Canada and rising input costs, which have led to a decline in cattle herd numbers, making beef more costly to produce and feed.

This surge in beef prices will likely have a domino effect on other meat prices. As consumers turn to chicken and mutton in response to rising beef prices, those costs will increase as well.

Additionally, food products typically found in the middle aisles of grocery stores, which often feature reasonably priced items such as canned goods, may also see price increases.

So, how are Torontonians planning to navigate these challenges next year?

“By changing our grocery shopping habits,” said a 35-year-old mother from Milton, Ontario. “I am now focusing on foods I can afford, rather than foods I would prefer.”