Nearly 30 per cent of Canadians imagine food inflation was largely attributable to grocery stores’ attempts to extend their profit margins, in response to a brand new Leger poll. Another 26 percent imagine inflation is primarily as a result of global economic aspects, while one in five blame the federal government for it.
Food inflation was 1.4 per cent in April, helping to bring overall inflation right down to 2.7 per cent, Statistics Canada said.
However, low inflation also implies that prices rise. And over the past three years, food prices have risen 21.4%, in response to the agency.
Major grocers said they’d not benefited unduly from inflation amid political and public pressure over rising prices for food and other essentials.
More than half of Canadians support the Loblaw boycott
Frustrated with higher prices and concentration within the industry, a gaggle of consumers organized a boycott of Loblaw stores in May.
Seven in 10 Canadians surveyed said they were aware of the continued boycott, and 58 percent said they supported it. But only 18 percent said they or someone of their household had joined the boycott.
The survey highlights different views of rural and concrete residents on the boycott and suggests that it’s harder for those living outside an urban area to take part in a boycott of Loblaw-owned grocery stores.
Urban residents surveyed by Leger were more more likely to say they supported the boycott than suburban and rural residents and were more more likely to take part in it.
