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:
June 03, 2026AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES, APRIL 2026 Year-over-year (April 2026 vs April 2025)
Over the last year (April 2026 vs April 2025), the consumer price index for all items in Nova Scotia excluding food increased by 4.6%. Food prices as a whole rose 3.0%. At the same time average weekly earnings across all Nova Scotia industries increased by 3.1%.
In the last year, the following products reported lower prices in Nova Scotia: beef (top sirloin, rib), pork shoulder cuts, chicken (breasts, thigh, drumsticks), bacon, canned tuna, eggs, oranges, pears, limes, avocado, sweet potatoes, peppers, salad greens, frozen french fries, frozen mixed vegetables, frozen spinach, flatbread/pita, crackers, white rice, orange juice, ketchup, olive oil, peanut butter, mayonnaise, canned tomatoes, canned soup, canned beans/lentils, canned peaches and sunflower seeds.
The following products reported price growth that exceeded the gains in average weekly earnings: beef (striploin, ground), pork (loin, rib), whole chicken, shrimp, canned salmon, meatless burgers, milk (1 litre), soy milk, nut milk, cream, butter, bananas, lemons, grapes, cantaloupe, strawberries, potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, celery, lettuce (iceberg, romaine), broccoli, squash, frozen green beans, frozen broccoli, frozen corn, frozen peas, frozen strawberries, white bread, cookies, pasta, wheat flour, white sugar, apple juice, coffee, vegetable oil, canola oil, infant formula, canned baked beans, canned corn, dried lentils, dry beans, tofu, hummus, salsa, pasta sauce, salad dressing, almonds, peanuts and deodorant .
Nova Scotia prices relative to national average (April 2026)
Nova Scotia food prices were below national averages for the following products: beef (top sirloin, rib), pork shoulder cuts, chicken thigh, bacon, salmon, shrimp, canned salmon, milk (2 litres), cheese, carrots, romaine lettuce, frozen green beans, frozen corn, frozen mixed vegetables, frozen peas, frozen spinach, frozen strawberries, peanut butter, mayonnaise, canned tomatoes, canned beans/lentils, pasta sauce, sunflower seeds, deodorant and shampoo.
Nova Scotia food prices were more than 10% higher than the national averages for the following products: pork (loin, rib), whole chicken, chicken drumsticks, cream, eggs, apples, oranges, bananas, pears, lemons, limes, grapes, cantaloupe, strawberries, onions, cucumber, mushrooms, iceberg lettuce, broccoli, peppers, squash, flatbread and pita, white rice, vegetable oil, canola oil, dried lentils and salad dressing .
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
<--- Return to Archive
