These grocery items are on the naughty list as food prices keep climbing

Food prices are soaring. Food prices keep climbing. Food prices are defying cooling inflation.

You've heard us say it every which way recently, and maybe it's starting to feel like a tired refrain. But the fact remains: Food is expensive. And even if Canadians haven't shifted their shopping habits yet — although many have — they've likely at least noticed that their grocery bill seems a lot higher than usual lately.

Canada's annual inflation rate stayed flat in November, but grocery inflation reached its highest rate in nearly two years, Statistics Canada said on Monday, with the price of food bought from stores rising 4.7 per cent in November year over year.

But which items are hitting your grocery bill hardest this holiday season?

There are a few repeat offenders, such as beef and coffee, but the costs of some others, like lettuce, might come as a bit of a surprise. But there's at least one sliver of good news for anyone planning a traditional Christmas dinner.

Let's break down which basic food items have champagne tastes these days.

At this point, it just feels cruel.

But after months of skyrocketing coffee prices, they jumped again in November. The cost of roasted or ground coffee increased 3.1 per cent from October, and a whopping 36. 4 per cent compared to this time last year.

That's the biggest annual increase of any grocery item Statistics Canada tracks in its Consumer Price Index, making roasted or ground coffee the winner, and those of us hooked on caffeine, well… you know.

But why? Earlier this year, global prices hit record highs due to shortages in major producing countries such as Brazil and Vietnam. At the same time, U.S. tariffs on goods from Brazil have upended the global coffee market, pushing prices upward.

When CBC News checked various grocery store websites Thursday, the average price of a large tub of ground coffee was around $25, depending on the brand and quantity.

For instance, 930 grams of President's Choice ground coffee cost $25.99 at Loblaws, 930 grams of Nabob roast coffee was $24.99 at Food Basics (on sale from $29.99), 900 grams of Maxwell House cost $19.97 at Walmart, and 865 grams of Folgers went for $24.99 at Sobeys.

If you're looking for a more specific brand, it's even worse: 825 grams of roast ground Tim Hortons coffee cost $32.99 at Metro.

Lettuce, really? But yes, the leafy green salad filler shot up in November straight into the No. 2 spot for annual increases on grocery items.