Have you noticed your grocery bill going up lately? Well, blame it on the rising prices of chicken thighs. Despite a slight easing in Canada’s inflation rate last month, grocery items like chicken thighs saw significant price hikes. According to the latest consumer price index (CPI) report from Statistics Canada, the overall inflation rate decreased to 2.8 percent in June, mainly due to a slowdown in gas prices. However, the cost of chicken thighs surged by 8.2 percent from May to June and 13.6 percent compared to the previous year.
While some grocery items like cucumbers, tomatoes, and grapes saw price drops from May to June, the cost of chicken thighs continued to rise. For instance, a club pack of boneless, skinless chicken thighs at Loblaws in Toronto was priced at $22.18, while a value pack at Walmart in North Vancouver cost $22.48 per kilogram. Similarly, a pack of Our Compliments boneless, skinless chicken thighs was selling for $20.92 per kilogram at a Sobeys in Halifax.
Experts Explain the Trend
According to Michael von Massow, a food agriculture professor at the University of Guelph in Ontario, the increase in chicken prices is driven by demand. As protein prices continue to rise, consumers are opting for more affordable options like chicken thighs over expensive beef cuts. Sylvain Charlebois, the director of Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab in Halifax, also acknowledged this shift, noting that nearly every part of the chicken, except for breasts, has become more expensive.
Statistics Canada’s retail data from May revealed that chicken breasts remain the priciest part of the chicken, averaging at $14.58 per kilogram, while thighs and drumsticks were priced at $13.72 and $7.29 per kilogram, respectively. In comparison, beef prices ranged from $16.07 per kilogram for ground beef to $35.30 per kilogram for striploin cuts in May.
Looking Ahead
Despite the current trend, experts predict that chicken supply will eventually balance out with demand. While consumers may feel the pinch of rising protein prices, there are alternative options like plant-based proteins. However, changes in dietary habits and cooking skills may impact consumer choices in the long run.
As the cost of proteins like beef and chicken continues to rise, Canadians are facing challenges in finding affordable sources of protein. While the situation may seem daunting, experts advise that adjustments in supply and demand dynamics will help stabilize prices in the future.
