The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday, Jan. 26, edition that many economists believe the affordability crisis is an illusion, as financial pressures on Canadian households do not appear to be reflected in the numbers. The Globe's Tim Shufelt writes that since the COVID-19 pandemic began, average weekly wages have increased by 29 per cent since the end of 2019, outpacing the 21-per-cent rise in the Consumer Price Index, according to Statistics Canada. It would appear as though the average household is in better shape, financially speaking. Surveys, however, reveal that many Canadians are struggling financially, with nearly half feeling like they are barely managing, according to a recent Abacus survey. It is not just psychological, households are facing pressure from rising food prices. Inflation may be under control overall, but grocery prices continue to rise at double the inflation rate, following the worst hit to food affordability since postwar times. Mr. Shufelt says if you want to know what has spoiled the national mood, the grocery store is a prime culprit. Grocery prices serve as a constant weekly reminder of the cumulative toll of nearly five years of excessive food inflation.