Figures released the last Friday before the May long weekend show that Canada's inflation rate rose to an annual rate of 1.7% in April as higher prices for food and shelter contributed to a higher cost of living.
Statistics Canada reported that seven of the eight sectors of the economy the data agency monitors saw rising prices. The lone exception was clothing and footwear, which actually became cheaper during the month.
Fresh vegetable prices were up 11.7% year-over-year in April and food prices from restaurants were up 2.7%
In the closely watched energy sector, prices in April were down 3.2% compared with a year ago, but the drop was much smaller than the 7.8% decline in March.
Gasoline in April dropped in price 5.8% compared with a year ago, while natural gas fell 12.8% and fuel oil plunged 19.3%. The moves compared with drops of 13.6%, 17.4% and 25.8%, respectively, for March.
The 1.7% figure was larger than the 1.3% rate seen in March, but in line with what economists were expecting.
The inflation rate increased in every Canadian province except Alberta, where it stayed flat at 1.5%
