Menu prices in Ontario are up since the minimum wage increase came into effect
Menu prices at Ontario restaurants have jumped nearly two percent in the first month of 2018.
Prices are up at all types of eateries, including table-service restaurants and cafeterias, according to the Consumer Price Index released by Statistics Canada on Friday.
Food purchased from fast food and take-out restaurants saw the biggest jump with a 1.9 per cent increase in January 2018 over December 2017. Meanwhile, the price increases represent a 4.4 per cent increase over a 12-month period.
| January 2017 | December 2017 | January 2018 | December 2017 to January 2018 | January 2017 to January 2018 | |
| 2002=100 | % change | ||||
| Food purchased from restaurants | 144.3 | 148.2 | 149.6 | 0.9 | 3.7 |
| Food purchased from table-service restaurants |
146.0 | 150.2 | 151.0 | 0.5 | 3.4 |
| Food purchased from fast food and take-out restaurants | 140.3 | 143.7 | 146.5 | 1.9 | 4.4 |
| Food purchased from cafeterias and other restaurants | 144.4 | 148.3 | 149.7 | 0.9 | 3.7 |
Source: Statistics Canada, CANSIM, table 326-0020 and Catalogue nos. 62-001-X and 62-010-X. Last modified: 2018-02-23.
According to Bloomberg, “The price jump was the biggest since January 1991, when then Prime Minister Brian Mulroney introduced a federal goods and services tax, which drove Ontario restaurant prices up 7.2 percent, the biggest one month gain on record.”