Families in the Foothills and across the country will be looking at higher costs for food as we head into 2019.

According to the report from researchers at Dalhousie University and the University of Guelph, the cost of food will rise from 1.5 to 3.5 per cent next year.

This could result in the average family of four paying approximately $12,157 annually, which is an increase of about $411 from 2018.

Lettuce and tomatoes could be possible candidates for vegetable increases, with that category forecasted to have the largest increase of about four to six per cent.

However, meat and seafood prices are forecasted to decrease in price, with meat declining one to three per cent and seafood to remain the same or fall by up to two per cent.

Dining out may be out of the budget for some in 2019, as prices could increase from two to four per cent due to increased labour costs.

Researchers say fruit and vegetables are the most fragile, as they are influenced by climatic events, which can create shortages in supply.

The report predicts more modest increases of one to three per cent for bakery items, zero to two per cent for dairy, and fruit one to three per cent.

The full report can be found by clicking here: https://www.dal.ca/faculty/management/news-events/canada-s-food-price-report.html