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July 02, 2025AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES, MAY 2025 Year-over-year (May 2025 vs May 2024)
Over the last year (May 2025 vs May 2024), the consumer price index for all items in Nova Scotia excluding food increased by 1.1%. Food prices as a whole rose 2.7%. At the same time average weekly earnings across all Nova Scotia industries increased by 3.7%.
In the last year, the following products reported lower prices in Nova Scotia: beef (stewing, top sirloin), wieners, shrimp, canned tuna, nut milk, block cheese, bananas, lemons, grapes, cantaloupe, strawberries, cabbage, onions, celery, lettuce (iceberg, romaine), broccoli, frozen french fries, frozen strawberries, white bread, flatbread/pita, pasta, brown rice, wheat flour, tea, canola oil, olive oil, baby food, mayonnaise, canned goods (beans, soup, lentils, corn, peach, pear), dried lentils/beans/legumes, hummus, pasta sauce, salad dressing, toothpaste
The following products reported price growth that exceeded the gains in average weekly earnings: beef (rib, ground), pork (loin, shoulder) , chicken (whole, thigh, drumsticks), bacon, salmon, milk, cream, yogurt, eggs, oranges, pears, avocado, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, squash, salad greens, frozen vegetables (green beans, broccoli, corn, mixed vegetables, spinach), crackers, cookies, white rice, white sugar, orange juice, coffee, ketchup, infant formula, canned tomatoes, salsa, peanuts, laundry detergent
Nova Scotia prices relative to national average (May 2025)
Nova Scotia food prices were below national averages for the following products: beef (stewing, striploin, rib), pork shoulder, chicken thigh, salmon, shrimp, milk (2 litre), cabbage, squash, baby food, infant formula, pasta sauce, shampoo
Nova Scotia food prices were more than 10% higher than the national averages for the following products: pork loin, whole chicken, canned tuna, cream, oranges, bananas, pears, lemons, limes, strawberries, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, cucumber, mushrooms, iceberg lettuce, broccoli, peppers, frozen vegetables (green beans, broccoli, mixed vegetables, spinach), flatbread/pita, cookies, white rice, vegetable oil, canola oil, canned tomatoes
Notes: Statistics Canada makes available scanner data on prices collected for a range of food and personal care items. These prices are collected through point-of-sale (transaction) data obtained directly from Canadian retailers. The data represent commonly purchased items (which do change over time), but are not representative of the Consumer Price Index weights. Over time, products are rotated and quantity or quality may change. Comparisons of prices from one time period to another reflect quantity and quality changes as well as price changes.
For the purposes of this analysis, the 110 items reported by Statistics Canada will be grouped into:
- Meat, fish, poultry and meat substitutes
- Dairy, eggs and substitute products
- Fruit (including canned and frozen products)
- Vegetables (including canned and frozen products)
- Grains, cereals, beans, legumes and nuts
- Sugar, juices, cooking oils, condiments and prepared foods
- Health and cleaning products
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 18-10-0245-01 Monthly average retail prices for selected products; Table 18-10-0004-01 Consumer Price Index, monthly, not seasonally adjusted; Table 14-10-0063-01 Employee wages by industry, monthly, unadjusted for seasonality
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