The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday edition that economists and academics expect the trend of rising prices at the grocery store will follow consumers into 2026 even as Statistics Canada reported the overall inflation rate held steady in November. A Canadian Press dispatch to The Globe says that annual inflation rose 2.2 per cent in November, unchanged from the previous month and a tick below economists' expectations. Grocery prices were up 4.7 per cent year-over-year in November -- a jump from 3.4 per cent in October and the highest level recorded since December, 2023. Rising prices for fresh berries were driving the acceleration in November, and costs were also rising in a broad category that includes prepared foods like soup and potato chips. Prices for fresh or frozen beef were up 17.7 per cent in November amid lower cattle inventories across North America. TD senior economist Leslie Preston said in a note that she is expecting some "choppiness" in the coming months for inflation as last year's GST holiday distorts the annual comparison. The federal government last year waived sales tax on a variety of grocery items, common gifts and household goods for two months starting in the middle of December.