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March 03, 2026AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES, JANUARY 2025 Year-over-year (January 2026 vs January 2025)
Over the last year (January 2026 vs January 2025), the consumer price index for all items in Nova Scotia excluding food increased by 1.4%. Food prices as a whole rose 9.2% (influenced by the effects of temporary HST relief on food purchased from restaurants that was in place in January 2025 but not January 2026). At the same time average weekly earnings across all Nova Scotia industries increased by 6.3%.
In the last year, the following products reported lower prices in Nova Scotia: chicken thighs, butter, eggs, oranges, bananas, pears, limes, cantaloupe, strawberries, avocado, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, cucumber, mushrooms, peppers, frozen french fries, flatbreads, white rice, ketchup, olive oil, peanut butter, mayonnaise, canned baked beans, dry beans/legumes, hummus, toothpaste, laundry detergent.
The following products reported price growth that exceeded the gains in average weekly earnings: beef (stewing, striploin, top sirloin, rib, ground), pork (loin, rib, shoulder), chicken (whole, breasts, drumsticks), bacon, wieners, canned salmon, meatless burgers, yogurt, apples, grapes, celery, iceberg lettuce, frozen spinach, frozen strawberries, cookies, pasta, apple juice, coffee, vegetable oil, canola oil, infant formula, canned soup, canned peach, canned pear, tofu, salad dressing, almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds.
Nova Scotia prices relative to national average (January 2026)
Nova Scotia food prices were below national averages for the following products: beef (stewing, rib, ground), pork rib, chicken thigh, salmon, canned salmon, milk (2 litres), romaine lettuce, frozen french fries, peanut butter, mayonnaise, pasta sauce.
Nova Scotia food prices were more than 10% higher than the national averages for the following products: beef striploin, pork (loin, shoulder), chicken (whole, breasts), canned tuna, eggs, oranges, bananas, pears, limes, grapes, cantaloupe, strawberries, potatoes, onions, mushrooms, iceberg lettuce, broccoli, squash, frozen strawberries, flatbreads, crackers, wheat flour, vegetable oil, canola oil, canned baked beans, dried lentils, dry beans/legumes.
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
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