Top Grocery Items With the Biggest Price Jumps in February

Canadian grocery prices rose 5.7 per cent in February 2026 compared to February 2025, according to data from Statistics Canada. This increase significantly outpaced Canada’s overall inflation rate, which stood at 1.8 per cent in February 2026.

The Statistics Canada data, which tracks average retail food prices for 105 common grocery items, revealed that whole chickens saw the most significant annual percentage increase. Prices for whole chickens rose by 43.8 per cent, reaching an average of $8.57 per kilogram in February 2026.

Coffee also experienced a substantial year-over-year jump, increasing by 29.9 per cent to reach $9.51 for a 340 gram package in February 2026.

Beef and Protein Price Trends

In terms of absolute price increases, beef striploin cuts saw the largest jump. Average prices for these cuts increased by $7.51, reaching $35.56 per kilogram in February 2026, representing a 26.8 per cent increase year-over-year.

Other beef products followed a similar upward trajectory. Beef rib cuts increased by $4.91 year-over-year to reach $37.70 per kilogram, while beef stewing cuts rose by $4.21 to reach $23.90 per kilogram.

Regional Price Disparities

Grocery price increases were not uniform across the country, with the Maritime provinces experiencing the most significant jumps over the past year.

• Nova Scotia saw an increase of 8.5 per cent.
• Prince Edward Island saw an increase of 7.2 per cent.
• New Brunswick saw an increase of 7.0 per cent.

Three provinces reported grocery price increases that were lower than the national average of 5.7 per cent. Alberta recorded a 5.1 per cent increase, British Columbia saw a 4.5 per cent rise, and Quebec experienced the lowest increase at 3.9 per cent.

Price Decreases and Stable Items

While many items rose in cost, several grocery staples saw significant price drops compared to February 2025. Cantaloupes were 28.9 per cent cheaper, followed by olive oil with an 18.5 per cent decrease, pears with a 17.9 per cent drop, and oranges with a 17.6 per cent decrease.

Despite these annual decreases, some categories saw short-term rises. Fruits and vegetables saw a cost increase of 2.4 per cent in February 2026 when compared specifically to January 2026.

Certain products remained price-stable over the year. Average prices for brown rice, block cheese, mayonnaise, and peanut butter remained virtually unchanged.