Inflation: Which products are getting cheaper?

While Canadians are feeling the pinch of rising inflation, some products have actually become cheaper in recent months.

According to Statistics Canada, the price of whole chickens has dropped 13 percent since December 2021. Pork chops have seen a similar drop.

“We’re in the middle of barbecue season right now. So if you want to look around for some deals, don’t stray far from the meat stand. You can actually find some really good deals there,” said Sylvain Charlebois, director of Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analysis Laboratory, in an interview with CTV’s Your Morning.

Tomato prices fell by 26 percent, while canned salmon fell by four percent. According to Charlebois, other products whose prices have started to fall include tofu, bananas and peanut butter.

For those products, Charlebois said prices for farm inputs have started to fall.

“(Commodity) prices have actually come down over the last few months, which is really easing the pressure on the supply chain.”

According to Statistics Canada last week, annual inflation in that country was 8.1 percent in June 2022, the highest in nearly 40 years. Food inflation also remains high at 8.8%, but data shows that food prices are starting to stabilise.

As market conditions become more favorable and predictable, Charlebois said grocery stores are now starting to offer better sales and discounts.

“If you’ve noticed over the last few years, there are fewer losses, fewer discounts, fewer promotions. Why? Because it was harder for companies to plan ahead. Now it gets easier. So as a consumer going there to the grocery store, you should expect more discounts, which is really good news for everyone.”

Such deals come at a time when fuel prices are also off their recent highs. Across the country, gasoline prices fell this past weekend to their lowest levels since April.

“Just a few weeks ago we were paying a lot more for fuel than we are now. And that affects food prices in general, especially products that have to come from far, far away,” Charlebois said.

Watch the full interview with Sylvain Charlebois at the top of this video.