Manitoba government mulls grocery price measures as inflation continues

The Manitoba government is launching a study aimed at finding new ways to keep groceries affordable.

Finance Minister Adrien Sala says the study will look at issues such as differential pricing, where shoppers buying from the same store could be charged different prices for the same item.

Sala could not point to such an example in Manitoba, but says there are cases in the United States where online shoppers were charged different prices based on their personal information or prior shopping patterns.

The study, which was promised in the NDP government's throne speech in November, is also considering whether the province should expand its control over the retail price of one-litre milk cartons to larger milk containers.

Sala says the study will also look at whether fees or taxes could be changed to reduce grocery bills.

That most recent figures from Statistics Canada show Manitoba had the second-highest inflation rate for groceries among provinces during the 12-month period that ended in December.