The Economics and Statistics Division maintains archives of previous publications for accountability purposes, but makes no updates to keep these documents current with the latest data revisions from Statistics Canada. As a result, information in older documents may not be accurate. Please exercise caution when referring to older documents. For the latest information and historical data, please contact the individual listed to the right.
<--- Return to Archive
For additional information relating to this article, please contact:
May 28, 2026FOOD SERVICES AND DRINKING PLACES, MARCH 2026 Monthly (March 2026 vs February 2026, seasonally adjusted)
Nova Scotia food services and drinking places receipts decreased by 0.03% to $208.2 million in March. Canada's food services receipts rose by 0.5% to $8.70 billion, with increases in seven provinces. Newfoundland and Labrador reported the fastest growth and Québec reported the largest decline.
Year-over-year (March 2026 vs March 2025)
Nova Scotia reported a year-over-year gain of 4.1% in food service receipts. Canada's food services receipts increased 3.6% with year-over-year gains in all provinces with the strongest gain in Manitoba. Québec reported the slowest gain.
Year-to-date (January-March 2026 vs January-March 2025)
Nova Scotia's year-to-date food service receipts increased 4.4%. Nationally food service receipts increased 4.3%. All provinces reported a year-to-date increase in receipts, with Manitoba reporting the largest increase. Prince Edward Island reported the slowest gain.
Nova Scotia's year-to-date gains in food service receipts (in value terms) are mainly attributable to the increases in full service eating places, with a smaller rise for limited and special food services (mobile, and catering) receipts. Nova Scotia drinking places reported slightly lower year-to-date receipts compared to the same period last year.
Special food services and full service restaurants reported the strongest growth rates in percentage terms, while drinking places had the only decline.
Trends
Nova Scotia's food service receipts exhibit more volatility than national food service receipts, but in recent months Nova Scotia's receipts have grown faster than the national trend.
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 21-10-0019-01 Monthly survey of food services and drinking places (x 1,000)
<--- Return to Archive
