Canadians are on average making fewer grocery store runs as food inflation persists, but still spending roughly the same amount per trip, according to a report Thursday by RBC.

The bankB次元官网网址檚 consumer spending tracker showed the average number of grocery transactions in February was up 8.4 per cent relative to pre-pandemic levels, compared with a roughly 13 per cent bump relative to pre-pandemic levels seen toward the end of November 2022.

B次元官网网址淚t could very well be people are cognizant of rising prices, and instead of just going and picking up things here and there, theyB次元官网网址檙e being more conscious and just making fewer trips to the store,B次元官网网址� RBC economist Carrie Freestone said.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 largely a story of people continuing to have to pay more for groceries.B次元官网网址�

Grocery prices grew by 11.4 per cent year-over-year in January, despite an overall annual inflation rate of 5.9 per cent for that month, according to the latest data released by Statistics Canada.

Freestone said it could take time for food prices to fall, but itB次元官网网址檚 too soon to predict when that will happen.

B次元官网网址淕rocery spending is very much non-discretionary. I think where weB次元官网网址檙e more likely to see the pullback, as the impact of higher rates filters through the economy, is discretionary spending,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淲hen interest rates are really high, food prices are still a lot higher and real wages arenB次元官网网址檛 catching up with inflation. WeB次元官网网址檙e going to be in a situation where people have lower disposable income and they have less money left over to spend on discretionary goods.B次元官网网址�

The consumer spending report showed discretionary spending held steady through February. Restaurant spending remained strong despite a slight decline over the last three months.

The latest inflation data indicated food purchased from restaurants rose 8.2 per cent in January compared with the same month last year B次元官网网址� up half a percentage point from December.

Canadians also continue to book trips despite flight costs rising 28 per cent from pre-pandemic levels, according to RBC. Spending growth on international travel continued to outpace domestic flights.

B次元官网网址淭his is a unique case, but weB次元官网网址檙e coming out of a pandemic where we have this immense pent up demand,B次元官网网址� Freestone said.

B次元官网网址淧eople are willing to spend a little bit more at bars and restaurants, a little bit more travel, because they missed out on it for so long. It is somewhat unusual that weB次元官网网址檝e seen it hold up for this long, but given the context, itB次元官网网址檚 not surprising to me.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擲ammy Hudes, The Canadian Press