Across the globe, the cost of groceries is weighing heavily on the minds—and wallets—of everyday people. From Canada to the United States and as far as Estonia, the rising price of food is reshaping how families shop, budget, and even eat. It’s a story that’s both personal and universal, marked by anxiety, adaptation, and, in some cases, a reliance on community support systems.
In Canada, the numbers paint a stark picture. According to a June 2025 report by PwC, a staggering 76% of Canadians worry about the rising cost of food, a figure that far surpasses the global average of 59%. This concern isn’t unfounded. Grocery giant Loblaw’s July food inflation report reveals that food prices in June 2025 were 2.8% higher than the previous year—a slight slowdown from May’s 3.3% increase, but still outpacing the overall inflation rate of 1.9%. For Canadian households, this means that trips to the supermarket are consistently more expensive, with budgets stretched ever thinner.
Statistics Canada’s data, analyzed from January to June 2025, shows a mixed bag when it comes to price changes for everyday items. Some staples have crept up in cost: shrimp (300 g) rose from $7.39 to $7.68, oranges (1.36 kg) from $5.27 to $5.92, and orange juice (2 L) from $5.62 to $5.95. Even basics like yogurt, cream, peanut butter, dry pasta, and canned baked beans saw increases. Yet, there are a few bright spots—tomatoes (1 kg) dropped from $6.64 to $4.48, margarine and mayonnaise saw modest decreases, and sugar (2 kg) fell from $3.31 to $2.90. Still, for most Canadians, these small reprieves are overshadowed by the overall upward trend.
South of the border, Americans are feeling the pinch just as acutely. A poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research in early August 2025 found that nearly every U.S. adult feels some level of stress about grocery costs. Half of Americans say it’s a “major” source of stress, while another third call it a “minor” stressor. Only 14% report that grocery costs aren’t a worry at all—a testament to just how pervasive this anxiety has become.
The stress isn’t confined to any one demographic. While younger Americans are more likely to stress about housing or savings, the cost of groceries cuts across age, income, and geography. For those earning less than $30,000 a year, 64% say groceries are a major stressor. But even among households making $100,000 or more, only about 20% say they aren’t worried about food costs. Women and Hispanic adults, in particular, report higher levels of anxiety about income, savings, groceries, and healthcare, according to the poll.
The stories behind the numbers offer a glimpse into daily life under financial strain. Adam Bush, a 19-year-old welder from Portland, New York, told the Associated Press, “I just keep watching the prices go up, so I’m looking for the cheapest possible stuff. Hot pockets and TV dinners.” For retirees like Esther Bland in Buckley, Washington, groceries are only a “minor” stress because local food banks help fill the gap. “I have no savings,” she said. “I’m not sure what’s going on politically when it comes to the food banks, but if I lost that, groceries would absolutely be a major source of stress.”
Many Americans are turning to creative solutions to stretch their dollars. About 30% of U.S. adults say they’ve used “buy now, pay later” services—like Afterpay or Klarna—for essentials such as groceries, entertainment, or medical care. Younger adults are especially likely to use these services, sometimes as a last resort to put food on the table. While these payment plans can offer temporary relief, consumer watchdogs warn they may lead to overextension and financial trouble down the line. Shandal LeSure, a receptionist from Chattanooga, Tennessee, said she’s used pay-later services for clothes and even hotel costs after being evicted. “That’s been able to help me stretch my dollar,” she explained.
Other financial stressors—housing, income, savings, healthcare, credit card debt, child care, and student loans—compound the pressure. About half of U.S. adults say housing is a “major” source of stress, with similar numbers reporting anxiety about their pay, savings, and healthcare costs. For some, like LeSure, this means shopping at less expensive stores, even if it means sacrificing quality. “It’s an adjustment,” she admitted. “Sometimes the quality isn’t as good.”
Meanwhile, in Estonia, the story is both familiar and unique. Despite soaring food prices in recent years, the number of people relying on weekly food assistance from the Estonian Food Bank has remained stable at around 17,500. In the previous year, the Food Bank collected and distributed 4.4 million kilograms of food, according to ERR. Most donations—about 80%—come from retail partners, with producers, importers, and private individuals making up the rest. The Food Bank’s operations are supported by around 400 weekly volunteers and collaborations with over 270 charitable organizations nationwide.
“Our daily operations rely on our dedicated volunteers, around 400 of whom help out with us weekly,” said Sven Lillepalu, communications manager at the Estonian Food Bank, in an interview with ERR. “We accept any kind of help—whether donations or, for example, volunteers.” The contents of food boxes vary from week to week, depending on donations, but typically include baked goods, fruits, vegetables, pasta, rice, cooking oil, and canned food. Local government social workers determine eligibility for aid, sending lists of recipients to the Food Bank each week. Lillepalu noted that, “Charity is usually one of the first things people cut back on in hard times, and that is completely understandable.”
Yet, even as demand for assistance holds steady, the Food Bank’s revenues have declined—mirroring broader economic challenges and a decrease in charitable giving. Estonia’s first Food Bank was founded in Tallinn in 2010, and its continued operation is a testament to both the resilience and vulnerability of community support structures in times of economic uncertainty.
Across continents, the cost of groceries is more than just a line on a receipt—it’s a daily source of anxiety, adaptation, and, for many, a test of survival. Whether it’s a Canadian family recalculating their grocery list, an American retiree relying on food banks, or an Estonian volunteer packing food boxes, the struggle to afford basic necessities is shaping lives in profound ways.
