The latest food costs are in for families living in Huron and Perth counties.
Huron Perth Public Health published their “The Real Cost of Eating: Food Insecurity in Huron and Perth 2024” report, which says the average weekly cost of groceries is $309 per week, or $1,338 per month.
That is a 14 per cent jump from $267 weekly, in 2023.
“For a family of four receiving Ontario Works, this means they would need to spend 46% of their income on food to meet Canada’s Food Guide recommendations,” the report says.
The survey is conducted by pricing 61 food items using the lowest available cost in eight local grocery stores (five conducted in-store, three conducted online) and calculating the average retail price.
“Income policies preserve dignity, address the root cause of the problem, allow people to choose the food they want, and ensure basic right to food. The most effective way to reduce household food insecurity is to make poverty reduction a political priority.”
