The Canada Day long weekend is the perfect time for burgers on the grill, cold drinks and a good time with family and friends.
Posted at 4:42 p.m.
However, those backyard gatherings will cost more this year.
Food prices soared 9.7% in May from the same month a year earlier as inflation hit its highest level in nearly 40 years.
The prices of many barbecue dishes, such as steaks and vegetables, have risen again, making entertaining with family and friends more expensive.
Using prices collected by Statistics Canada, the cost of hosting a Canada Day BBQ with eight adults and eight children today would cost $302.04, more than 17% more than in 2021 , when the bill was $257.27.
Price increases could lead to a shift in buying and consuming habits as people look to save money on groceries.
“Prices are rising much faster than we have been accustomed to for four decades,” observed Sal Guatieri, senior economist at the Bank of Montreal.
“People may start moving to cheaper items, especially when it comes to food. They could replace the steak with chicken to save money, for example. »
In addition, travel during the long weekend will eat into budgets even more. The cost of filling up with gas and staying overnight in a hotel room has gone from about $220 a year ago to about $317, up almost 44%.
Still, rising costs shouldn’t deter Canadians from coming together and celebrating Canada Day.
“Pent-up demand for socializing, going out and barbecuing this summer will outweigh price hikes,” Guatieri said.
“But once households have exhausted some of their savings and pent-up demand has diminished, we could start to see a bigger shift in behavior. »
Despite skyrocketing costs, Canadians are doing better this year than they did last, said University of Toronto economics professor Angelo Melino.
“More Canadians are working and they’re working longer hours,” he said. The country’s gross domestic product (GDP), the amount of goods and services we produce, has increased, and consumption has increased quite dramatically. »
While some higher costs may convince Canadians to turn to cheaper alternatives to the grocery store, prices for some BBQ staples have held steady.
“Alcohol and recreational cannabis aren’t on the rise as much as other things, so maybe beer is a cheap drink for the 1er July […], but maybe (people will buy) hot dogs instead of steaks. »
Here is an overview of the costs of items on a typical Canada Day BBQ menu.
Percentage price increases for food groups match the average increase in May over the same month last year, according to Statistics Canada inflation data. Additional price details for a specific item are average estimates from April 2021 and April 2022, the most recent month for which the price breakdown is available, and are not statistically comparable. Costs are estimated based on grocery prices for a barbecue with 16 people.
Beef: 11.2%
The cost of a kilogram of strip loin steak was $22.87 in April 2021. For a barbecue with eight adults, each consuming a steak of about half a kilogram, the cost would be $91.48. This year, the cost would be $28.80 per kilogram for a total bill of $115.20.
Chicken: 7.9%
In April 2021, chicken breasts cost $12.58 per kilogram. Two kilograms to share on the barbecue would cost $25.16. Today, with a price of $15.32 per kilogram, the cost would be $30.64.
Hot dogs, sausages: 9.9%
In April 2021, about 400 grams of sausage cost $3.76, or about $7.52 for 800 grams (about two packs). In April 2022, the cost increased to $4.09 for 400 grams, or $8.18 for 800 grams.
Bread, rolls and buns: 11.1%
White bread went to $3.37 for 675 grams in April 2022, while the same quantity sold for $3.03 in April 2021.
Vegetables: 10.2%
Fresh fruit: 11.3%
A kilogram of tomatoes went from $3.70 to $4.21, a kilogram of potatoes went from $4.22 to $4.18, a kilogram of onions went from $4.14 to $5 $.28 and romaine lettuce went from $2.63 to $3.58. The price of a cantaloupe rose to $3.28 in April from $2.82 the previous year. The cost of a lawyer rose to $2.35 in April from $1.76 the previous year.
Ice cream: 4.1%
A liter of ice cream that cost around $4.50 in 2021, or $9 for two liters, would now cost around $4.70 or $9.40 for two liters.
Fats, edible oils: 30%
Condiments, spices and vinegars: 20.6%
A liter of ketchup went from $3.32 to $4.07, mayonnaise went from $4.55 to $5.93, and vegetable oil went to $10.83 for three liters, up from 6, $48 last year.
Beer: 4.8%
A case of 24 beers that cost $47.50 a year ago would cost around $49.50 today.
Wine: 4.7%
A $20 bottle of wine a year ago would cost just under $21 today, or $40 for two bottles compared to $42 today.
The total cost of hosting a Canada Day BBQ in 2021 would have been around $257.31. Today, the same barbecue would cost $302.00, or more than 17% more.