How these 10 basics are hitting your grocery bill

The cost of groceries has been a big part of inflation on P.E.I. in recent months.

In November the annual inflation rate on the Island was 9.7 per cent, but the rate for groceries was 13.5 per cent.

Just as inflation can vary within larger categories, it also varies item by item. Every month, Statistics Canada tracks the prices of 110 common grocery store items using data it receives directly from retailers as prices are rung in at the checkout.

Here's a closer look at how prices have changed for some of those items.

Meat is a relatively expensive grocery item and fortunately has not been a big source of inflation.

Of the 14 meat products listed in the Statistics Canada study, eight of them were actually down in price, as measured from November to November. Prices that were down include bargain favourites such as ground beef (down 2.4 per cent) and whole chickens (down 4.9 per cent).

Items that were up included chicken thighs (up 9.2 per cent) and stew beef (up 6.5 per cent).

In November 2021 the price of a 170-gram can of tuna was $1.78. It jumped to $2.23 in December and stayed over $2 until November rolled around again, when it fell to $1.90.

For much of the year the price of tuna has been up about 24 per cent over the November 2021 price, but the November-to-November increase is just 6.7 per cent.

The price of two litres of milk, which was under $4 in November 2021, climbed over the next 12 months.

From November to November it is up 7.7 per cent, which is a few percentage points below the overall annual rate for groceries.

The price of butter has been up and down, but the ups have been bigger than the downs.

It sat at $4.38 for 454 grams in November of 2021 and peaked over $6 in the summer before moderating somewhat.

From November to November the price is up 22.4 per cent.