By Julian Beltrame, The Canadian Press
OTTAWA – Canada’s annual inflation rate jumped to 2.4 per cent in October, its highest level in two years, as Canadians were hit with price hikes for most things from gasoline to cars, shelter and food.
The half-percentage-point increase in the annualized consumer price index was well above what analysts had forecast, and is likely to raise some alarms with the Bank of Canada.
Statistics Canada blamed higher energy costs for most of the increase, particularly an 8.8 per cent hike in gasoline prices, but most things were noticeably higher in October.
Transportation costs rose 4.6 per cent, while shelter costs increased 2.8 per cent.
Other higher costs included food which was up 2.2 per cent, electricity 8.1 per cent, cars 4.9 per cent, car insurance 4.6 per cent, and property taxes by 3.5 per cent.
On a month-to-month basis, Canadians paid 0.4 per cent more in October for a basket of items than in September.
Economists had expected an increase to about 2.2 per cent from a recent pick-up in oil prices and the continuing impact of the new harmonized sales tax in Ontario and British Columbia — two populous provinces that can move the national needle — but the higher number suggests that inflation may be more sticky than previously thought.
Even the underlying core inflation, which excludes volatile items like gasoline, rose three-tenths of a point to 1.8 per cent, edging nearer to the Bank of Canada’s two-per-cent target.
Central bank governor Mark Carney, whose prime mandate is to guard against price spikes, is still expected to hold steady on interest rates at the next scheduled decision date next month, however.
Not all prices were higher last month. Clothing and footwear continued to be bargains as prices edged down 0.1 per cent, although the drop was less than the 2.2 per cent seen in September.
As well, mortgage interest costs retreated by three per cent, the price of computer equipment and supplies dropped 12.5 per cent and air transportation and furniture were lower than last year as well.
Regionally, the two HST provinces continued to have among the highest inflation rates in the country, with Ontario leading the way at 3.4 per cent, half-a-point higher than in September, and British Columbia at 2.9 per cent. Newfoundland’s inflation also remained elevated at three per cent.
Alberta and Manitoba had the lowest inflation among provinces at 1.2 per cent. http://ca.news.finance.yahoo.com/s/23112010/2/biz-finance-canada-s-inflation-rate-jumps-half-point-2.html