The cost of living in this country went up at last month to its highest level since 2014, mainly because of a sharp increase in the price of energy.
Statistics Canada reported Friday that the inflation rate rose to a 2.2% annual rate in February, from 1.7% the month before.
Energy costs have increased by 5.3% in the year up to February, and gasoline prices specifically have jumped by 12.6% over the past year. Higher prices for food at restaurants were also a big factor, up 4% in the past year.
On the other hand, the agency said, prices for electricity (down 4.7%), travel accommodation (down 4.8%), digital computing equipment and devices (off 5.9%), video equipment (sliding 10.1%) and furniture ( down 1.8%) have all gotten cheaper, on average, in the past 12 months.
