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Opinion Letter Columnist
Published on May 27, 2024 • Last updated 55 minutes ago • 3 minute read
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Food price increases are beginning to ease. Photo: Sean Goff/Postmedia News
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Author: Sylvain Charbois
Statistics Canada reported this week that food inflation stood at 1.4 per cent in April, meaning food prices on store shelves are 1.4 per cent higher than they were a year ago.
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But the bureau also confirmed a trend that our institute has been tracking for some time: food prices fell 0.3% in April. They did fall. And it's possible that the bureau's May figures will be negative again.
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Notably, Canada's food inflation rate fell for the fourth consecutive month in April, falling to 2.3% from 3% in March. Food purchased in stores increased 1.4% year-over-year, the lowest since July 2021. This marks the first time since November 2021 that food inflation (2.3%) has fallen below general inflation (2.7%).
This is undoubtedly good news, especially given the difficult years we have endured. Lower prices are something many Canadians have been waiting for.
However, reactions and comments on the inflation data suggest that few people are aware that Statistics Canada has actually released significant changes to food prices.
Not a single media outlet reported on this development. This omission is highly indicative, as it suggests a widespread interest in highlighting negative news in the data. The data released this week was certainly reassuring for the outlook for the rest of the year, but no one seemed to pay attention.
This reaction stems from a deeply rooted obsession. Food inflation has been politicized to an extreme and exploited by people from all political walks of life. The political weaponization of rising food prices has led most Canadians to resist the rational analysis needed to understand the current situation.
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I was amazed to observe that when one person challenges another's views on food inflation, mutual accusations of conflict of interest and bias inevitably follow. We live in unique times.
At the root of this nasty social debate is the political infighting between party leaders in Ottawa, which is making the situation worse and putting all parties in a bind in the process. Why would any party want the food inflation storm to die down now, when so much of their messaging is centered on addressing the cost of living challenges we all face?
Meanwhile, NDP Rep. Jagmeet Singh, a vocal critic of Loblaw's profiteering, seems unwilling to acknowledge that market forces are at work, while Conservative Leader Pierre Poirierbre has also shown little appetite for fixing the problem.
Why do they do this? It's a perfect political issue for the Conservatives to blame the Trudeau government for, even though food inflation has been a long-standing challenge in most developed countries. Food inflation has been politically convenient for both the NDP and the Conservatives, but it should no longer be so. Yet no one in Ottawa seems to be taking up the issue with Singh or Poirierbre.
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It is essential that we make a calm decision as soon as possible when it comes to food prices. Emotions and sentiment seem to have more influence than data and science.
This is ridiculous. Canadians all too often mistake their emotions for evidence of truth, so we need to step back and look at what the data is revealing. The data clearly shows that things are getting better, and getting better fast.
Before making accusations of bias, we should take the time to examine the data. Emotions and feelings are strong, but they always mislead the truth.
Sylvain Charbois is professor and senior director of the Agri-Food Analytical Laboratory at Dalhousie University and co-host of The Food Professor podcast.
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