Year-over-year (September 2026 vs September 2025)

Over the last year (September 2026 vs September 2025), the consumer price index for all items in Nova Scotia excluding food increased by 6.4%. Food prices as a whole rose 1.7%.  At the same time the average weekly wage across all Nova Scotia industries increased by 4.9%.

In the last year, the following products reported lower prices in Nova Scotia: pork (loin cuts, rib cuts, shoulder cuts), chicken (whole, breasts, drumsticks), bacon, salmon, shrimp, meatless burgers, margarine, eggs, oranges, per kilogram, limes, strawberries, avocado, potatoes, per kilogram, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, onions, per kilogram, celery, cucumber, mushrooms, peppers, salad greens, frozen french fried potatoes, frozen green beans, frozen corn, frozen mixed vegetables, frozen peas, flatbread and pita, crackers and crisp breads, white rice, cereal, wheat flour, white sugar, orange juice, ketchup, olive oil, baby food, infant formula, canned baked beans, canned soup, canned peach, pasta sauce, salad dressing, peanuts, and shampoo.

The following products reported price growth that exceeded the gains in average weekly earnings: beef (stewing cuts, striploin cuts, top sirloin cuts, rib cuts, ground), chicken thigh, canned salmon, canned tuna, nut milk, bananas, lemons, grapes, romaine lettuce, cookies and sweet biscuits, dry or fresh pasta, roasted or ground coffee, vegetable oil, canola oil, peanut butter, canned beans and lentils, canned corn, tofu, salsa, almonds, sunflower seeds, and laundry detergent.

Nova Scotia prices relative to national average (September 2026)

Nova Scotia food prices were below national averages for beef striploin cuts, beef top sirloin cuts, ground beef, whole chicken, chicken thigh, chicken drumsticks, salmon, shrimp, meatless burgers, milk, 2 litres, strawberries, carrots, salad greens, frozen green beans, frozen mixed vegetables, frozen peas, frozen spinach, frozen strawberries, white sugar, baby food, infant formula, peanut butter, and pasta sauce.

Nova Scotia food prices were more than 10% higher than national averages for beef stewing cuts, beef rib cuts, pork rib cuts, cream, eggs, apples, oranges, per kilogram, bananas, pears, limes, grapes, cantaloupe, tomatoes, celery, cucumber, mushrooms, iceberg lettuce, broccoli, peppers, squash, flatbread and pita, roasted or ground coffee, vegetable oil, canola oil, olive oil, canned tomatoes, canned corn, and 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