While the final StatsCan data for December is not yet reported, based on the first 11 months of the year, the overall 2016 food inflation picture is very clear. Based on the Statistics Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI) the prices of Food Purchased From Stores will have increased at just over 1% in 2016. That is modestly lower than the price increase for All Items in the CPI. The 1+% increase this year also compares to the robust 4% increase in food purchased from stores prices in 2015. The 2011-2015 five year average rate of food store inflation was 3%. The food store inflation rate will likely be the second or third lowest rate of inflation since 2000 with 2010 standing as the lowest at 1%.
