July 29, 2026: A new national survey finds that affordability pressures tied to everyday necessities are impacting the vast majority of Canadian households. Groceries stand out as the most significant financial pressure facing Canadians, with three-quarters (76%) saying food costs have had the greatest impact on their household finances in recent months.
While food prices lead by a wide margin, many Canadians are also feeling pressure from other essential expenses. Nearly half of Canadians (47%) cite gasoline prices as a source of financial pressure, while one-third mention mortgage or rent payments (33%). A similar proportion note that electricity costs (29%) weigh heavily on their household budget. Those who cite household maintenance or repairs (19%) and home heating (19%) as financial burdens are among the minority.
Residents in Atlantic Canada are more likely than those elsewhere to mention electricity and home heating costs as factors affecting their finances. Those aged 25-34 are more likely than their counterparts to cite mortgage or rent as a stressor. Meanwhile, Canadians with a household income less than $60K are more likely to feel the impact of food costs but are less likely to be impacted by gasoline costs.
About one in ten indicate that none of the listed expenses have affected their household finances. This underscores the widespread issue of affordability across Canada, with a large majority experiencing at least one financial pressure in daily life.
Results are from an online survey conducted in partnership between Narrative Research and the Logit Group. The survey was conducted between June 12 and 26, 2026 with 1,237 Canadians, 18 years of age or older from the Logit Group’s online Canadian Omnibus. Data were weighted based on the 2021 Census, by gender, age, and region to reflect actual population distribution. For more information, please contact:
Margaret Chapman, COO & Partner, Narrative Research – 902.493.3834, mchapman@narrativeresearch.ca
OR
Sam Pisani, Managing Partner, Logit Group – 416.629.4116, sam.pisani@logitgroup.com
Narrative Research (www.narrativeresearch.ca), is a non-partisan, 100% Canadian-owned, research company, certified as a Women Business Enterprise (WBE). Narrative Research provides clients with state-of-the-art research and strategic consulting services.
The Logit Group (https://logitgroup.com/) is a leading North American data collection and market research execution company headquartered in Toronto, conducting large-scale projects for a variety of well-known research agencies and brands. Logit employs industry-best technologies across an array of methodologies, and is independent, experienced and quality-oriented.
The question asked was:
Thinking of various expenses you may have, what types of expenses, if any, have most impacted your household financial well being over the past few months?
- Home heating
- Electricity
- Food/groceries
- Mortgage/rent
- Household maintenance/repairs
- Gas for vehicles
- Other (please specify)
- Don’t know/Not sure
- None
