Cost of Living Monitor, an example edition

Prairie Pulse Research

Cost of Living MonitorNo. 14 · October 2026

Cost of Living Monitor · ManitobaData to 30 September 2026

Food and rent keep household costs ahead of the index

Our basket of what Manitoba households buy most often ran 4.7 per cent above a year earlier in August, against provincial inflation of 3.1 per cent. Cheaper natural gas is the only real offset

1What households paid in September

Five of the six items we price rose faster than provincial inflation over the year. Groceries and fuel led, and asking rents for two bedroom units in Winnipeg rose 4.6 per cent. Natural gas was the exception after last winter's lower commodity costs passed through to the primary rate.¹

Table 1Household costs, September 2026 against September 2025dollars, cents a litre and per cent

Item	Sep 2026	Sep 2025	Change
Grocery basket, Winnipeg	$312.40	$298.10	up 4.8%
Grocery basket, Brandon	$318.90	$302.60	up 5.4%
Gasoline, Winnipeg, ¢/L	148.9	141.2	up 5.5%
Electricity, typical bill	$104.60	$100.10	up 4.5%
Natural gas, typical bill	$68.20	$71.40	down 4.5%
Two bedroom rent, Winnipeg	$1,598	$1,528	up 4.6%

Source: Statistics Canada consumer price index, Manitoba Public Utilities Board orders, posted pump prices, rental listings, Prairie Pulse Research store collection

Figure 1Monitor basket against consumer prices, year on yearper cent change on a year earlier

Source: Statistics Canada consumer price index, Prairie Pulse Research basket weights

2Inside the grocery basket

Meat and fresh produce explain most of the grocery increase. Beef cuts in our basket rose more than 11 per cent over the year, while dairy, bakery and household supplies stayed close to provincial inflation.

Figure 2Winnipeg grocery basket by category, change on a year earlierper cent

Meat: +7.9%
Fresh produce: +6.2%
Dairy and eggs: +3.4%
Bakery and cereals: +2.8%
Household supplies: +1.9%

Source: Prairie Pulse Research store collection, September 2026

3Rate decisions made in September

Four decisions published in September will change household bills over the next six months. The gas increase arrives first and will reverse most of this year's saving on a typical bill by December.²

Table 2Rate and fee decisions published in Septemberper cent and dollars

Decision	Decided by	Change	Effective
Primary natural gas rate	Utilities regulator	+6.8%	1 Nov 2026
Residential electricity rates	Utilities regulator	+3.5%	1 Jan 2027
Water and sewer rates	City of Winnipeg	+4.0%	1 Jan 2027
Vehicle registration fee	Province	+$10	1 Mar 2027

Source: Manitoba Public Utilities Board orders, City of Winnipeg budget documents, provincial notices

4Against our Household Sentiment Panel

5Before the next edition

September CPI from Statistics Canada on 21 October, the first bills at the new primary gas rate in November, and the City of Winnipeg's preliminary 2027 budget, which will confirm the water and sewer increase.

How this monitor is built

The grocery basket is 40 items priced in the same five chain stores in Winnipeg and Brandon in the second week of each month
The Monitor basket weights groceries, fuel, utilities and rent by their shares in the provincial CPI basket
Every price and rate traces to a receipt, listing, order or notice held on file for subscribers who ask

Approved for subscribersMarguerite OlafsonDirector of Research · 8 October 2026

¹ Rents are median asking rents from listings in the month, not the annual rental market survey, which reports in the new year.

² Typical bills assume 750 kWh of electricity and 80 cubic metres of natural gas a month at residential rates.