Shea McInnis used to love cooking.

But higher prices have reduced the PhD student to basic meal planning on a shoestring budget.

香蕉视频直播淣ow it香蕉视频直播檚 just about what nutrition I can produce with the dollars I have,香蕉视频直播� said McInnes, who attends Saint Mary香蕉视频直播檚 University in Halifax. 香蕉视频直播淚 make a lot of decisions based on whether there香蕉视频直播檚 a sale. The enjoyment and delight are gone.香蕉视频直播�

Food inflation remains stubbornly high in Canada as grocery prices climbed at the fastest pace in more than four decades last month.

While overall inflation moderated in August, the cost of food purchased from stores was up a staggering 10.8 per cent compared with a year ago.

That香蕉视频直播檚 the fastest clip recorded by Statistics Canada since 1981.

Higher prices swept nearly every aisle of the grocery store. Even items once considered cheaper substitutes for pricier products weren香蕉视频直播檛 immune to inflation.

For example, frozen and dried vegetables 香蕉视频直播� usually considered a budget-friendly option 香蕉视频直播� jumped 14.1 per cent last month compared with a year ago while fresh vegetables rose a more modest 9.3 per cent.

A similar trend appeared to unfold in the meat department.

香蕉视频直播淎 few months ago when beef and pork prices were increasing significantly you could substitute for chicken,香蕉视频直播� said James Orlando, director at TD Economics.

香蕉视频直播淣ow the opposite is happening where beef and pork price inflation is decelerating and chicken prices are increasing.香蕉视频直播�

Several basic food staples also posted significantly higher prices.

Flour prices were up 23.5 per cent in August compared with the same month last year, pasta prices were up 20.7 per cent, bread 17.6 per cent, eggs 10.9 per cent, fresh fruit 13.2 per cent and fats and oils 27.7 per cent.

Even the simple potato pulled off double digit price gains.

Sustained higher prices are prompting Canadians to adopt new shopping habits to save money, a new survey released Tuesday said.

The survey found Canadian consumers are shopping more at discount stores, buying cheaper store brands, using loyalty programs and scouring weekly flyers for deals.

香蕉视频直播淔ood inflation is lingering and is really starting to shape where and how people buy food,香蕉视频直播� said Sylvain Charlebois, professor of food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University and director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab, which conducted the survey along with Caddle, an online data platform.

The survey also found nearly a quarter of Canadians have cut back on the amount of food they purchased within the last year because of high grocery prices.

香蕉视频直播淪ome people are actually buying less food,香蕉视频直播� Charlebois said. 香蕉视频直播淭here are dietary compromises being made by many Canadians.香蕉视频直播�

In an effort to save money, McInnis said he香蕉视频直播檚 cut back on both treats and healthy foods.

香蕉视频直播淚 used to really enjoy going to the bakery section and buying some cookies or a cake for a treat,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut now that I香蕉视频直播檓 trying to get as much mileage as I can out of my money I香蕉视频直播檝e cut that out.香蕉视频直播�

He香蕉视频直播檚 also stopped eating as much salad. The rising cost of vegetables and the risk of spoilage with fresh foods makes it香蕉视频直播檚 not even worth it, he said.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e definitely made sacrifices at the grocery store to try to save money,香蕉视频直播� McInnes said.

Some relief from soaring food prices could be in store as easing input costs reduce pressure on food prices.

香蕉视频直播淲ith transportation costs and agricultural commodity prices now off their peaks, the trend in food price inflation should start to soften towards the end of this year and into 2023,香蕉视频直播� Andrew Grantham, senior economist at CIBC Capital Markets, said in a client note.

Michael Medline, president and CEO of Sobeys Inc., said last week grocery store inflation may have peaked in Canada as price increases from food manufacturers stabilize.

The number and rate of cost increases being passed along to the grocery chain from food suppliers began decreasing in recent weeks, he said during an earnings call.