If grocery bills feel harder to manage, new data suggests many Canadians are feeling the same strain.
A recent survey from Spergel found more than 60 per cent of respondents skipped meals or reduced portions in the past six months due to financial pressure. The findings point to a growing trend where basic food costs are no longer just a household expense but increasingly tied to debt.
More than half of those surveyed said they used credit, buy now pay later services, lines of credit or payday loans to pay for groceries. In total, 70.3 per cent said they were either using or considering using credit just to afford food.
Everyday trade-offs becoming routine
The report describes a pattern many households are falling into. Canadians are delaying bill payments, cutting back on healthier food options and worrying about grocery costs even while employed.
About 40.5 per cent said they delayed paying a bill in order to buy groceries.
At the same time, 57.6 per cent reported worrying about grocery money at least occasionally.
These are not isolated cases. National data from Statistics Canada shows food insecurity has been rising, reaching 22.9 per cent in 2023 and an estimated 25.5 per cent in 2024.
Food prices also continue to climb. Grocery costs increased five per cent year over year as of late 2025, adding to pressure already felt by households.
The “credit orbit” effect
The survey introduces the idea of a “credit orbit,” where households begin relying on borrowed money for essentials, creating a cycle that becomes harder to escape.
Groceries go on credit. Bills get pushed back. Interest and late fees build. Stress increases.
“For many Canadians, the warning sign is not one big financial event,” said Rob Kilner, a licensed insolvency trustee with Spergel.
“It is the steady pressure of higher living costs combined with existing debt payments.”
Kilner said that pressure is now showing up clearly in household budgets across the country.
Food choices shifting under pressure
The impact is also changing what Canadians eat as well.
Nearly half of respondents said they are buying less meat or protein. A similar number said they are cutting back on fruits and vegetables. More than half reported shopping at multiple stores to chase deals.
These shifts raise concerns beyond finances, including long-term health impacts tied to diet quality.
Why it matters locally
While the survey reflects national trends, the underlying pressure is tied directly to rising input costs across the economy.
That includes agriculture.
Fertilizer, fuel and transportation costs all feed into the price of food on store shelves. As those costs rise, they ripple through the supply chain and ultimately land on consumers.
For households already stretched, even small increases can push budgets past the breaking point.
Food bank usage across Canada continues to climb, with nearly 2.2 million visits recorded in March 2025, according to Food Banks Canada.
The Spergel survey, based on 269 respondents, suggests many Canadians are still trying to cope before reaching that point.
A shift in what “getting by” looks like
What was once considered a warning sign, putting groceries on credit or skipping meals, is becoming more common among Canadians.
For many, the pressure is not sudden. It builds slowly through higher costs, fixed incomes and existing debt.
And increasingly, it shows up at the checkout.
Read more: Lloydminster Mayor raises concerns about Canada’s fuel supply
