Here’s how the prices of some common grocery staples have changed

Ontarians shopping at grocery stores may have noticed that their bills have been fluctuating lately.

For most shoppers, bills are higher than at the start of the year as inflation continues to weigh on shoppers’ wallets.

Data from Statistics Canada shows Ontarians are not feeling relieved at the grocery store as prices of pantry and refrigerator staples rise again.

The Office of Canada’s monthly average retail price for selected products shows that a number of common products have risen in price since the start of the year.

Between January and May of this year, Statistics Canada recorded price increases for everything from dairy products to fresh meat and lentils.

Statistics Canada found that in April 2022, the price of food rose by 9.7 percent. Canadians had to pay much more for food staples, such as fresh fruit by 10%, meat by 10.1% and fresh vegetables by 8.2% in price.

While some items have increased by up to 87 percent, other items have decreased in price by up to 35 percent from January to May.

Statistics Canada data shows the items that have increased the most over the past five months are pork shoulders, jumping 87 per cent per kilogram, individual cantaloupes up 36 per cent, and the 1.36kg bag of onions has jumped by 28 percent.

Alternatively, individual cucumbers fell by 35%, followed by a 28% price drop per kilo of tomatoes. Pork cuts have become cheaper by 13 percent.

Here are some common kitchen items that have increased in price over the past five months, as well as some that have decreased in price.

Data from Statistics Canada shows that these products have seen the biggest price increases. (Daniel Caudle/CTV News Kitchener)

Data from Statistics Canada shows that these items have seen the biggest price declines. (Daniel Caudle/CTV News Kitchener)

In an effort to continue fighting inflation, Canada’s central bank on Wednesday raised its overnight interest rate by 100 basis points, the biggest rate hike since August 1998.

More price hikes are possible as Canadian food suppliers signal that grocery store price hikes could be coming this fall.

Statistics Canada will release the consumer price index for June on July 20.