BMO Notes Jump in Canada's Spectator Costs, Peanuts and Cracker Prices

06:59 AM EDT, 10/22/2025 (MT Newswires) -- If Canadians think ticket prices for a concert or sports game seem "eyewatering" these days, it's because they are, said Bank of Montreal (BMO).

The latest consumer price index report showed spectator entertainment costs jumped 10.7% month over month in September, the fastest pace since the early 1990s. Compare that to a sub-2% growth trend in the 10 years prior to the pandemic, noted the bank.

Following the lockdowns, consumers have seemingly prioritized 'experiential' purchases -- such as live events -- over goods, stated BMO. That's helped push the growth rate of ticket prices to multi-decade highs.

This category has a very small weight in the overall CPI basket (just 0.33%), so it won't have a major sway on headline inflation, pointed out the bank. Still, that's no consolation for fans who will need to shell out to see the Blue Jays and Dodgers live in action at the World Series.

With the FIFA World Cup for soccer hitting Toronto and Vancouver next summer, Canadians could see costs surge to new heights, added the bank.

Canadians might have noticed their grocery bills rising further in September, as grocery prices ratcheted up another 4% from a year ago, noted BMO.

Among the many sources of stickiness are some familiar favorites that could make an appearance at your next party: processed meat (+4.5% y/y), cookies and crackers (+6.0%) and nuts (+15.7%).

Indeed, the World Series could make a dent in Canadians' wallets, even for those watching from home, according to BMO.

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