Seems To Me

[The_Foxer]

That’s pretty crazy. I hear public transport works in Toronto & Vancouver & Montreal due to their population bases.

Sure, but even there there's limits. You aren't hauling 5 bags of groceries on the bus. So you're shopping a lot more often unless you're shopping at a very local store and both present their own issues. And if you're not mobile you may well have to shop somewhere that the prices are significantly higher. About the only good news is the shelves tend to be fairly well stocked.

It's just a challenge for everyone right now. The inflation in food is really really bad and for many it's making life hard. I'm lucky in many ways so it doesn't hit me as bad but iv'e got a (much) younger sister who's got young kids and it's been a lot harder for her. And it's not done yet - people are going to really feel it over this year. And if we see that economic downturn and inflation still higher than target along with these higher interest rates, a lot of people are simply not going to make it financially.

 

[pgs]

Sure, but even there there's limits. You aren't hauling 5 bags of groceries on the bus. So you're shopping a lot more often unless you're shopping at a very local store and both present their own issues. And if you're not mobile you may well have to shop somewhere that the prices are significantly higher. About the only good news is the shelves tend to be fairly well stocked.

It's just a challenge for everyone right now. The inflation in food is really really bad and for many it's making life hard. I'm lucky in many ways so it doesn't hit me as bad but iv'e got a (much) younger sister who's got young kids and it's been a lot harder for her. And it's not done yet - people are going to really feel it over this year. And if we see that economic downturn and inflation still higher than target along with these higher interest rates, a lot of people are simply not going to make it financially.

The same old story that has been told as long as I remember .

 

[Serryah]

Lots just doesn’t seem to be available. Bought one (slightly larger than a softball) head of iceberg lettuce for $4.99 today & there’s no green onions to be had.

Veg here isn't so bad yet for availability, but price is... insane.

That’s pretty crazy. I hear public transport works in Toronto & Vancouver & Montreal due to their population bases.

Yeah, unfortunately public transport doesn't exist in my town and anyone who has tried to set up shuttle services - not taxi - to go to the larger city, it always flops. If you don't have a car yourself or family, a cab is all you have for options, which for being 10 to get just local service... it's insane.

Yep, much cheaper to eat shit than to try to eat healthier generally.

Sadly, unless you know where to look/can get to the places that have the cheaper good food.

We stopped at a Walmart this afternoon, and three bags (misc.) was $232.60 and it didn’t take long to put away.

Yeah, Wally World is not the deal some make it out to be. Thankfully 15 minutes away there's a "corner store" that's also got a butchery and basic grocery where the cheap stuff is. Plus, NS sometimes has cheaper gas than NB.

View attachment 16706

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How is this going down in Quebec & NFL? Most provinces will see prices spike beyond the 2023 forecast, with Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador expecting lower price increases.
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This above feels serious low balled. Last year, Canada’s Food Price Report predicted an overall food price increase of 5% to 7%, but as of September, this rate stood at a shocking 10.3%.

In 2022, the use of food banks rose to never-before-seen heights in the country. Visits to food banks went up by a startling 35% compared to pre-pandemic food bank visits in 2019.

The Canada Food Price Report also notes that 20% of Canadians reported their household would be “likely or very likely” to get food or meals from community organizations including food banks, community centres, or other access points over the next six months.

Nearly half of Canadians (47%) said they’ve started buying cheaper alternatives of items they used to purchase.

Soaring food prices could add an extra $1,065 to your grocery bill next year | Canada

With food prices rising to ridiculously unaffordable levels, Canadian families might end up spending a lot more money on groceries next year.

dailyhive.com

StatsCan says there are multiple factors influencing this. “Contributing to price increases for food and beverages were unfavourable weather, higher prices for important inputs such as fertilizer and natural gas, as well as geopolitical instability stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” explained the agency. Slap an ever increasing Carbon Tax on top of that, and the coming Clean Fuel Standard incentive on top of that that will eventually be passed onto the end user of everything, and Ta-Dah!!

As Canadians, you may be surprised to find that prices for cereal products (excluding baby food) rose by 17.9%. Following closely behind it is the price of coffee and tea, which rose by 16.4%. After that, baked goods come in at an increase of 14.8%. The only products that are below a 10% increase are dairy (9.7%), seafood (7.6%), and meat (7.6%) ??? Really? Only 7.6%?
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Lettuce prices skyrocket amid shortage of romaine and iceberg

Those who can get their hands on a head of lettuce are paying as much as $5.99. Subway Canada is reducing the lettuce portion on sandwiches

nationalpost.com

None of the above surprises me, save for the NFLD prices; just saw a pic someone shared of turkey being 75 bucks (though not sure what size). That'd be a HAEL NO for Christmas.

 

[petros]

$35 for a butterball at Freshco

 

[harrylee]

$35 for a butterball at Freshco

Food Basics had butterballs for $1.99/lb last week.......

 

[petros]

The $75 bird must be a 30lber

 

[The_Foxer]

The same old story that has been told as long as I remember .

Your memory must be relatively short then, or extremely localized. Certainly it wasn't a story many canadians were telling for most of the 21st century so far, with the exception for some around 2008 and even then it was nothing like this. It's only been the last few years - prior to that income and inflation stayed about on par for at least a few decades.

It was like this in the 80's for many, but nothing like this bad after that. So while your specific community may have had challenges or your family or something, for most Canadians this is a rude wake up call. And another year of it to go from the sounds of things.

 

[Ron in Regina]

Early 1980s recession - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Then, maybe a coincidence, & maybe not:

Electoral history of Pierre Trudeau - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The Bank of Canada raised its prime interest rate throughout 1980 and early 1981 in an attempt to rein in inflation, with the deeper second portion of the early 1980s recession beginning in July 1981.

The Bank of Canada's interest rate peaked at 21% in August 1981 and was kept at high levels until spring 1982, but the inflation rate still averaged more than 12% in 1981-82.

 

[The_Foxer]

Then, maybe a coincidence, & maybe not:

I think not. I think Justin has largely attempted to copy his father's career and success and there's a LOT of parallels. His father overspent and increased the size of gov't during a time of propserity, so did justin. His father pitted one region against another for political gain and justin has tried to do the same. Trudeau was the first to envoke the war measures act - justin the emergency act that replaced it. Both borrowed more than anyone before them. Both lacked transparency and basically told the west to eff off. Both badly screwed over the energy sector to win points in ontario and quebec.

THe list goes on - i honestlyl believe and have for some time that Justin wanted to literally be Pierre 2.0 and follow his game plan very closely.

 

[petros]

The difference between the early 80s and now? There are jobs galore now.

 

[The_Foxer]

The difference between the early 80s and now? There are jobs galore now.

That is a huge difference, but remember that we're not really into the downturn yet. Unemployment was at record lows in the 70's, leading into the 80's downturn, and then crashed. We're still kind of at the beginning of that cycle.

The boomers are mostly into retirement age with many going into retirement or part time work early during covid, (a little bit left to go) and trudeau is looking at bringing in record-high numbers of people for at least the next 3 years. Businesses are looking for ways to automate and use less staff. Or they're shutting down. And many jobs will dry up if there's a significant or long term economic slowdown or recession. Certainly we won't see job growth keep pace with population if the expected downturn materializes.

So, the difference isn't as stark as it might first look. You have to remember we're just at the beginning, We'll have to see how that plays out.

 

[petros]

It boils down to the skills and educations the immigrants are bringing with them. Canada and the US are the hardest countries to immigrate to if you have nothing to offer. Contrary to popular belief we aren't importing the broke and useless.

 

[The_Foxer]

It boils down to the skills and educations the immigrants are bringing with them. Canada and the US are the hardest countries to immigrate to if you have nothing to offer. Contrary to popular belief we aren't importing the broke and useless.

True but that only supports the position that large numbers of such immigrants will quickly begin filling the vacant jobs. If we enter a recession (which seems very likely) and economic growth slows substantially, then you bring in 500 k a year in skilled labour, pretty quick the number of jobs goes down and the remaining jobs are filled and the unemployment rate goes up. But - there is also the issue of stagflation which we're already seeing. Even if people have jobs, if wage increases don't keep pace with inflation then our economic situation will seriously deteriorate over a relatively short time and for the average household it's just about as bad as periods of unemployment. that's very difficult to recover from as a country.

 

[petros]

As long as people are retiring at the current excellerated pace things will be fine.

 

[pgs]

Your memory must be relatively short then, or extremely localized. Certainly it wasn't a story many canadians were telling for most of the 21st century so far, with the exception for some around 2008 and even then it was nothing like this. It's only been the last few years - prior to that income and inflation stayed about on par for at least a few decades.

It was like this in the 80's for many, but nothing like this bad after that. So while your specific community may have had challenges or your family or something, for most Canadians this is a rude wake up call. And another year of it to go from the sounds of things.

Your remembrance of history is faulty .

 

[The_Foxer]

Your remembrance of history is faulty .

well mine is backed up by facts, records and recorded statistics so....

 

[pgs]

well mine is backed up by facts, records and recorded statistics so....

Are they ?

 

[Ron in Regina]

Are you both discussing the same thing? The early 80s and Pierre Elliott Trudeau? If so, then you’re both on the same page.

 

[harrylee]

I think Justin has largely attempted to copy his father's career and success and there's a LOT of parallels.

I can agree with that........

 

[Taxslave2]

True but that only supports the position that large numbers of such immigrants will quickly begin filling the vacant jobs. If we enter a recession (which seems very likely) and economic growth slows substantially, then you bring in 500 k a year in skilled labour, pretty quick the number of jobs goes down and the remaining jobs are filled and the unemployment rate goes up. But - there is also the issue of stagflation which we're already seeing. Even if people have jobs, if wage increases don't keep pace with inflation then our economic situation will seriously deteriorate over a relatively short time and for the average household it's just about as bad as periods of unemployment. that's very difficult to recover from as a country.

The problem with all this lies with housing affordability. You need two fairly healthy paycheques to even rent in places like Vancouver and Victoria. No way is it affordable on two minimum wage jobs or even one fairly decent wage.