{"id":229163,"date":"2026-06-16T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/?post_type=content&p=229163"},"modified":"2026-06-15T14:17:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T18:17:16","slug":"interac-survey-finds-single-canadians-are-bearing-the-brunt-of-rising-grocery-costs","status":"publish","type":"content","link":"https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/en\/content\/news\/interac-survey-finds-single-canadians-are-bearing-the-brunt-of-rising-grocery-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"Interac survey finds single Canadians are\u00a0bearing the brunt of\u00a0rising grocery costs\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From the premium of living solo to the tension of shopping for two, new research reveals how household dynamics shape grocery spending across Canada<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TORONTO, ON \u2013 June 16, 2026 \u2013 Shopping for one? The new State of the Cart<\/strong> grocery spending survey from Interac Corp. (Interac) finds that Canadians living alone \u2013 the most common household type in the country1<\/sup> \u2013 are feeling the pressure of rising costs. Nearly eight in 10 (77 per cent) Canadians who live solo say their grocery bill keeps climbing no matter what they do, and almost six in 10 (59 per cent) say they face disproportionately higher per-person costs than Canadians who split these expenses. The findings suggest the gap is real: the average single-person household spends approximately $102 per week on groceries, compared to $80 per person in a shared household.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Canadians living alone say they often miss the savings that come with buying in bulk and struggle to find ingredients portioned for one, with 32 per cent saying food often goes to waste before they can use it. For Canadians who once shared a cart with a romantic partner, there is an upside to living and shopping solo: no more compromise. Among those now living alone after previously living with a partner, seven in 10 (70 per cent) are relieved they can make their own decisions, leaving the tension of shared decision-making behind.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For couples navigating the aisle together, that tension is alive and well: nearly half (47 per cent) say they approach grocery spending differently from their partner, and nearly three in 10 (28 per cent) say grocery spending has been a source of strain in their relationship in the past six months. Four in 10 (40 per cent) say friction starts when one partner sticks to the list while the other is more likely to make impulse purchases. Other key sticking points include what counts as a necessary purchase and whether name brands are worth the price. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the first quarter of 2026, tens of millions of Canadians used Interac Debit to pay for groceries,\u201d said Chris Lee, Head of Payments at Interac. \u201cWith our State of the Cart survey, we wanted to better understand the domestic dynamics behind grocery transaction moments. While all Canadians face the common challenge of rising grocery prices, the pressure differs greatly according to whether you live alone or with a partner, your age and stage of life, and even the province you call home.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cart conflicts: grocery shopping among couples<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n