Background article, updated October 23, 2026. Our earlier Canadian collection has stored prices dated December 11, 2025 through March 21, 2026, with gaps. The current collection began March 22, 2026. See collection dates and gaps.
An average can answer a broad question and still hide the difference a pricing team needs to understand. To compare a product with a competitor, start with the prices at the stores and chains you want to study.
Keep the store with the price
A chain name alone does not establish a price at every location. Keep the store and province with each price you recorded. State which stores your result describes.
Before comparing products, check the brand, package size and amount inside. Similar names do not prove that two listings contain the same product.
Ask a specific question
Useful questions for a brand team include:
- How did this product's price change at the same chain?
- Was the competing product on sale on the dates we compared?
- Does the difference remain when package sizes are made comparable?
- Which stores and dates are missing from the comparison?
These questions lead to a result someone can check. A claim about an entire province needs evidence beyond a few store prices.
Separate listed prices from sales
A shelf-price file shows the prices a retailer listed. It does not show the number of units sold, whether a shopper bought the product, or why the retailer chose that price.
Use the record to compare prices and advertised sales. Use sales data when your question concerns demand or promotion effectiveness.
Make the comparison repeatable
Save the products, chains, stores and dates used in the analysis. Keep missing prices missing, and explain any products you excluded because their pack or price basis could not be compared.
See the sample data, read the collection method, or get a free API key.