Total sales in the food services and drinking places subsector increased 1.3% in January to $8.7 billion, according to a report released Thursday by Statistics Canada.
Non-seasonally adjusted prices for food purchased from restaurants were up 12.3% in January when compared with January 2025. Unadjusted prices for alcoholic beverages served in licensed establishments increased 9.0% over the same period. These were particularly large increases in the year-over-year Consumer Price Index caused by the temporary GST/HST break in effect at the start of 2025, which lowered the prices consumers paid for food and some alcoholic beverages at restaurants, said the federal agency.
In January, the largest increase in sales came from special food services (+8.5%), followed by limited-service eating places (+1.1%). Higher sales were also observed in full-service restaurants (+0.2%) and drinking places (+1.4%). Year-over-year increases were observed at full-service restaurants (+7.7%), special food services (+11.6%) and limited-service eating places (+1.6%), whereas sales at drinking places (-0.7%) declined, said Statistics Canada.
It said sales increased in every province in January, largely led by Alberta (+3.1%), British Columbia (+1.9%), and Quebec (+1.3%).
More from Retail Insider:
