A breakdown of the average Canadian grocery bill—And what might be in the cart (Part 1)

(Note: this article is part 1 of a 2-part series on changing household food expenditures. Part two publishes on Wednesday, July 30.)

Every two years, the Survey of Household Spending (SHS) releases detailed data on the average household expenditures on a wide range of items and categories of products. The latest data are from 2023, when the average expenditure per household on food from stores was $8,659, up 7.4% from 2021.

In 2022, consumer prices for groceries rose 9.8%, at the fastest pace since 1981, amid supply chain disruptions and increases in input costs (such as fuel and fertilizer) related to the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In 2023, prices rose by a further 7.8%.

Prices charged by manufacturers at the factory gate, as measured by the Industrial Product Price Index, also increased across the board from December 2021 to December 2023: meat, fish, and dairy products (+10.3%); fruit, vegetables, feed and other food products (+13.6%); and beverages (+17.1%), including significant increases among several individual products in these categories.

Against this backdrop, let’s break down how spending changed from 2021 to 2023 across the eight food product categories the SHS tracks, and how the average Canadian shopping cart may have looked different.

In part 1, we will go over the four categories with the highest expenditures, ranked in descending order.

Canadians continue to have sweet (and savoury) teeth

Canadian households spent an average of $2,153 on non-alcoholic beverages and other food products in 2023, up 11.9% from 2021.

This grab-bag of products accounted for the largest expenditure share among food categories in 2023. Non-alcoholic beverages and beverages mixes ($599; +7.7%), such as carbonated soft drinks and bottled water, were the main contributor, followed by condiments, spices and vinegars ($377; +5.6%) and sugar and confectionery ($343; +10.6%) (mainly candies and chocolates). Frozen and prepared foods, including snack foods ($158; +6.0%) also held as steady contributors.

Consumer prices for this category rose by 21.2% from 2021 to 2023, notably for edible fats and oils (+46.6%).

Meat expenditures little changed, but still account for the second-biggest budgetary bite

Canadian households spent an average of $1,544 on meat in 2023, up 1.8% from 2021. The $346 spent on chicken (+24.0%) was the main driver, compared with decreases in expenditures on beef ($391; -1.8%) and pork ($140; -16.2%).

Beef and chicken prices increased by similar rates from 2021 to 2023, but consumers may have opted for more cuts of chicken such as drumsticks or thighs, which are typically cheaper options compared with most beef cuts.

Average expenditures ticked up for processed meat ($612; +5.0%), including wieners, and to a lesser extent, sausage, and bacon and ham. Households also spent more on other meat preparations ($200; +19.0%), including frozen and prepared options.

Steady spending on dairy and eggs

The $1,203 in average expenditures on dairy products and eggs in 2023 (+3.6% from 2021) kept this category of staples firmly in third place among expenditures by category.

Households spent less on cheese ($359; -5.2%), though it remained the biggest line item in this category. Countering this were higher expenditures on milk ($239; +6.2%) and other dairy products ($309, +5.8%), such as cream. 

There was no noticeable flip in spending on eggs ($131; +0.8%), despite a price hike of 18.1% from 2021 to 2023, owing partially to higher input costs and reduced supply amid avian flu outbreaks.

Some fresh fruits saw higher average spending, amid decreases for others

The $719 average household expenditure on fresh fruit (+6.0% from 2021) included some interesting movements, likely driven by seasonality and variety of choices in addition to prices, and was the largest contributor to the $1,073 (+4.2%) spent on the category of fruit, fruit preparations and nuts.

For example, apples ($82; +15.5%) was the main driver, solidifying its staple status. Conversely, households spent less on peaches and nectarines ($16; -40.7%).

Higher spending on strawberries ($72; +28.6%) was offset by less spending on other berries ($91; -23.0%). Spending on bananas and plantains was largely unchanged ($63; -1.6%), given their steady supply and stable prices.

The increase in spending on citrus fruit ($145; +51.0%) was notable, given its regular rotation in the diets of many Canadians, and stood in contrast to a decrease in spending on nuts and seeds ($118; -11.3%), likely due to a shift toward other essential staples.

Fresh fruit prices increased by double digits in 2022 (+10.4%) but at a slower pace in 2023 (+6.0%).

Looking ahead

The second and final part of this series, publishing Wednesday, July 30, will break down expenditures in the remaining four categories: vegetables and vegetable preparations; bakery products; cereal grains and other cereal products; and fish and seafood.

Food Day Canada

Whatever you might be picking up at the grocery store, there’s a special day for Canadian foodies to celebrate next month.

August 2 is Food Day Canada, which engages and inspires everyone to shop, cook and dine Canadian. The day was originally created as the “World’s Longest Barbecue” by longtime Canadian food advocate Anita Stewart, her family and a number of pioneering supporters to show support for Canada’s beef ranchers and farmers.

Stewart, who passed away in 2020, became a member of the Order of Canada in 2012. In 2023, Parliament officially recognized Food Day Canada in its 20th year.