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October 07, 2026AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES, AUGUST 2026 Year-over-year (August 2026 vs August 2025)
Over the last year (August 2026 vs August 2025), the consumer price index for all items in Nova Scotia excluding food increased by 5.7%. Food prices as a whole rose 2.4%. At the same time the average weekly wage across all Nova Scotia industries increased by 4.4%.
In the last year, the following products reported lower prices in Nova Scotia: beef stewing cuts, beef top sirloin cuts, pork rib cuts, pork shoulder cuts, chicken breasts, bacon, wieners, shrimp, canned tuna, butter, margarine, eggs, oranges, per kilogram, pears, grapes, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, onions, per kilogram, peppers, frozen french fried potatoes, frozen green beans, frozen broccoli, frozen corn, frozen mixed vegetables, frozen peas, frozen pizza, flatbread and pita, crackers and crisp breads, white rice, cereal, white sugar, orange juice, tea (20 bags), ketchup, olive oil, baby food, mayonnaise, canned baked beans, canned soup, canned peach, hummus, salad dressing, shampoo, and laundry detergent.
The following products reported price growth that exceeded the gains in average weekly earnings: beef striploin cuts, beef rib cuts, ground beef, chicken thigh, chicken drumsticks, canned salmon, soy milk, nut milk, bananas, lemons, limes, cantaloupe, strawberries, avocado, potatoes, per kilogram, sweet potatoes, celery, romaine lettuce, squash, cookies and sweet biscuits, dry or fresh pasta, apple juice, vegetable oil, canola oil, peanut butter, canned corn, dried lentils, tofu, salsa, pasta sauce, almonds, deodorant, and toothpaste.
Nova Scotia prices relative to national average (August 2026)
Nova Scotia food prices were below national averages for beef stewing cuts, beef top sirloin cuts, ground beef, pork shoulder cuts, chicken thigh, shrimp, milk, 2 litres, butter, lemons, frozen green beans, frozen broccoli, frozen corn, frozen mixed vegetables, frozen peas, frozen spinach, frozen strawberries, infant formula, mayonnaise, pasta sauce, and shampoo.
Nova Scotia food prices were more than 10% higher than national averages for beef striploin cuts, beef rib cuts, pork loin cuts, canned tuna, cream, apples, oranges, per kilogram, bananas, pears, limes, grapes, cantaloupe, avocado, potatoes, per kilogram, tomatoes, celery, cucumber, mushrooms, iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, broccoli, peppers, squash, flatbread and pita, dry or fresh pasta, white sugar, vegetable oil, canola oil, canned baked beans, canned beans and lentils, dried lentils.
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 July 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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