Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food and Analytics Lab has released a “snapshot” of food prices heading into the new school year and it shows that the cost of an average school lunch basket is highest in St. John’s compared to other larger centres.
The report shows that food prices actually dropped somewhat over the latter part of the summer, but that respite isn’t expected to last.
The price of a basket of selected school lunch items cost $56.48 a month in St. John’s, and was lowest – at $52.05 a month – in Quebec City.
(Sylvain Charlebois)
Professor Sylvain Charlebois says that’s because it costs more to bring food to the island.
“Proteins have been a real big factor” says Charlebois, “for everyone in Canada but in particular for the Atlantic and Newfoundland.” However, he says overall, the picture is “much better for our kids going back to school this year compared to last year.”
Food prices dropped somewhat during August, but food inflation is expected to start rising again in October, November and December.
