Canadians stockpiling food because of inflation; survey

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada (AA) - Canadians are stockpiling food and buying cheaper food as grocery prices have steadily risen because of inflation, according to results of a survey released Thursday.

More than 1,000 Canadians were contacted for the survey by Nanos Research for CTV News and admitted to using a variety of methods to lower food costs as inflation stands at 6.9%, according to Statistics Canada. Food prices are at their highest in 41 years.

Those surveyed were asked if they had employed any of eight methods in the last 30 days to cut their grocery bill, including buying less expensive food (61%); did not change food habits (29%); stockpiling food (25%); eating less (17%); use food coupons (6%); buy less food, go to a food bank, waste less, and forage for food (1% all four).

The survey found that men’s and women's habits were affected differently by rising food costs.

About 34% of males said they were eating as usual with no change in habits, while only 23% of females said the same.

Stockpiling food brought the sexes closer together, with 23% of men admitting they had done so and 26% of women saying they stockpiled food.

Men and women were equal, 17%, when it came to the question of eating less in the past 30 days.

Age was a factor, too, with 20% in the 18 - 34 age group saying they had not changed grocery buying habits compared to 24.7% of those aged 34 - 54 and 37% aged 55 and older

Geography also played a role, with those surveyed in Atlantic Canada more likely to eat less and residents in Quebec the most prone to stockpiling food.

The survey was conducted by various telephone methods and online random survey of 1,084 Canadians 18 years and older between Oct. 30 and Nov. 4. The margin of error was plus or minus three percentage points, 19 times out of 20.