Experts expect food and gas prices to rise
If you’ve found it difficult to purchase certain products and goods lately, you’re not alone. Experts say the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the global supply chain, slowing economies that are now picking up the pace. This has lead to shortages for some items and rising prices for others.
At Sweet Jane’s Gift and Confectionary in downtown Halifax, the store shelves seem full. But owner Janet Merrithew notes some supplies are delayed coming in and several suppliers have been contacting her last minute to say shipping costs are going up.
“Our prices have not changed yet. Certainly leading up to Christmas they’re going to increase slightly. We’re going to try to not increase them too much” said Merrithew, adding suppliers will eat some of the cost and so will her business.
She recently heard from a supplier who told her a shipping container that would normally cost $4,000 will now cost $21,000 instead. Not all items she’s ordered have arrived on time. Stuffed toys have been coming in as back orders—meaning orders from three months ago still haven’t arrived and when it does, only 10 to 20 per cent of what was ordered shows up.
“Our suppliers are saying tell your customers to get out and buy now if there’s something in particular they want for Christmas,” Merrithew said.
Experts are forecasting gas and food prices to go up. COVID-19 created hiccups in global supply chains, slowing economies down but demand is now picking up.
As demand for gas grows, the President of Canadians for Affordable Energy Dan McTeague said prices will also go up.
“That could be anything from natural gas to propane to diesel to jet fuel to stove oil to heating oil,” McTeague said.
“All of those things are going up in response to what is really a pent up demand now starting to make its presence known and as a result supply just isn’t there.”
Sylvain Charlebois, Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, also expects food prices to rise. At grocery stores, he believes price hikes will happen incrementally.
“Instead of going up 15 to 20 per cent in one day, they may decide to up 5 per cent a month until Christmas for example,” Charlebois said. “Mother Nature, transportation and labour. Those are the three factors making our food basket more expensive right now.”
The trucking industry is facing a labour shortage. One that the Executive Director of Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association (APTA) said existed before COVID but has become more exposed because of it. Jean-Marc Picard of APTA cites a pause to driving schools and immigration as well as ongoing COVID restrictions as reasons why people either couldn’t enter the industry or left.
“I talked to a company in P.E.I. a few weeks ago and they need 10 customers like tomorrow and they’re refusing loads from customers because they need drivers,” said Picard.
Charlebois says when it comes to food, he recommends customers wait until the last minute to buy food, and use ‘Enjoy Tonight’ deals as much as possible, rather than hoarding items.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Premier Legault reiterates that McGill pro-Palestinian camp must be dismantled
Quebec Premier François Legault reiterated that the pro-Palestinian encampment at McGill University must be dismantled while police remain 'on the lookout for new developments.'
Houston braces for flooding to worsen in wake of storms
High waters flooded neighborhoods around Houston on Saturday following heavy rains that have already resulted in crews rescuing hundreds of people from homes, rooftops and roads engulfed in murky water.