| | The retail food price index is derived by weighting the individual food items within the retail food basket by the relative importance of each item in the total food-at-home budget. The index is then measured against the base year of January 1988, to determine change.
For the two-year period covering January 2001 to December 2002, the retail food price index for Edmonton rose 14.3 index points or 10.8 per cent. Most of this increase occurred in 2001, posting an overall annual increase in the retail food basket of 10.8 index points or 8.2 per cent.
Beef Prices
In general, retail beef prices trended upwards over the two-year period, peaking in April 2002 at $29.82, 18 per cent above the January 2001 level. Overall, retail beef prices rose 10 per cent over the two-year period.
Pork and Processed Meats Prices
In general, retail pork and processed meat prices trended upwards over the two-year period, increasing 12 per cent from January 2001 to December 2002. Retail prices peaked in November 2002, posting an average monthly price of $17.17, 14 per cent above the January 2001 level.
Dairy Prices
The dairy category is comprised of milk, butter, cheddar cheese, processed cheese and ice cream. Retail prices for dairy fluctuated over the two-year period. This was due to featuring or sale pricing of one or more of the food items that make up the dairy category. Overall, retail dairy prices rose 9 per cent from January 2001 to December 2002. Retail prices peaked in August 2002, posting an average monthly price of $19.56, 12 per cent above the January 2001 level.
Poultry & Egg Prices
The poultry and egg category is comprised of frying chicken, turkey and eggs. Retail prices increased by 2 percent over the two-year period, from $5.69 in January 2001 to $5.80 in December 2002. Prices peaked in February 2002 at $5.84, 3 percent above the January 2001 level.
Fresh Fruit Prices
In general, fresh fruit prices trended upwards, ending the two-year period 33 per cent higher than in January 2001. Most of the increase, which can be attributed to higher prices for oranges and apples, occurred in 2001. Retail prices peaked in December 2001 at $3.26, 38 per cent above the January 2001 level.
Fresh Vegetable Prices
Retail prices of fresh vegetables continued to show a cyclical trend of peaking in summer as supplies of local storable vegetables decline, and then trending downwards, as local vegetables are harvested. Overall, prices increased 27 per cent over the two-year period.
Bakery & Cereal Prices
The bakery and cereal product category is made up of bread, flour, pasta and breakfast cereal. Fluctuations in the monthly retail prices for bread and cereal products were a result of featuring or sale pricing of one or more of the food items that make up the category. Over the two-year period, prices ranged from a low of $12.44 in January 2001 to a high of $13.79 in December 2002. Overall, prices rose 11 per cent over the two-year period.
Fat, Oil & Shortening Prices
In general, fat, oil and shortening retail prices showed a decline in the early part of each year, followed by a significant increase to the middle of the summer, then sliding to late fall, before rising to the end of the year. Retail prices for this category increased by 3 per cent over the two years.
Beverage Prices
Retail beverage prices fluctuated in 2001 and 2002, ranging from a June 2001 high of $10.54, to a November 2002 low of $9.21, before ending the year at $9.56. Interestingly, the December 2002 price was 5 per cent lower than the January 2001 price.
Sugar and Natural Sweetener Prices
The sugar and natural sweetener category is made up of sugar and honey. In general, retail prices for this category fluctuated from January 2001 to February 2002. Featuring and sale pricing of both food items resulted in the monthly price fluctuations that characterized this period. Since March 2002 prices generally trended upwards from $9.96 to $12.43, largely in response to higher honey prices. Overall, prices rose 28 per cent over the two-year period.
Processed Fruit and Vegetable Prices
The processed fruit and vegetable category is a diverse group consisting of apple juice, tomato juice, canned tomatoes, baked beans, soup, infant food and jam. Prices for this category generally trended upwards to end the two-year period 9 per cent higher than in January 2001. Fluctuations in the monthly retail prices were a result of featuring or sale pricing.
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