Consumer Price Index

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November 2011 (Previous release)

Consumer prices rose 2.9% in the 12 months to November, matching the increase in October. While the 12-month change in gasoline prices continued to ease, the year-over-year increase in food prices remained high.

The 12-month change in the gasoline price index continues to decline

The 12-month change in the gasoline price index continues to decline

Chart description: The 12-month change in the gasoline price index continues to decline

Gasoline prices rose 13.5% in the 12 months to November, after advancing 18.2% in October. The increase in November was the smallest year-over-year gain since the beginning of 2011.

Consumers paid 4.8% more for food in the 12 months to November, the largest increase since July 2009. The November gain follows a 4.3% increase posted in October.

Note to readers

The special aggregate "Energy" includes: electricity; natural gas; fuel oil and other fuels; gasoline; and fuel, parts and supplies for recreational vehicles.

The Bank of Canada's core index excludes eight of the Consumer Price Index's (CPI's) most volatile components (fruit, fruit preparations and nuts; vegetables and vegetable preparations; mortgage interest cost; natural gas; fuel oil and other fuels; gasoline; inter-city transportation; and tobacco products and smokers' supplies) as well as the effects of changes in indirect taxes on the remaining components.

Statistics Canada is moving to one release time, 8:30 a.m., for all data releases in The Daily. This will mean a change in the release time for the CPI, which is currently 7:00 a.m. This change will be implemented with the release of CPI data on April 20, 2012.

The 12-month change in the CPI and the CPI excluding food

The 12-month change in the CPI and CPI excluding food

Chart description: The 12-month change in the CPI and CPI excluding food

12-month change: Prices up in all major components

On a year-over-year basis, prices increased in all eight major components in November. Transportation and food continued to post the largest increases.

Transportation and food continue to post largest increases

Transportation and food continue to post largest increases

Chart description: Transportation and food continue to post largest increases

The cost of transportation increased 5.7% in the 12 months to November, following a 6.7% gain in October. In addition to paying more for gasoline, consumers also paid more in passenger vehicle insurance premiums (+4.4%) and for the purchase of passenger vehicles (+1.8%).

Food prices rose 4.8% during the 12 months to November. Consumers paid 5.7% more for food purchased from stores as prices increased for common staples, including meat (+6.2%), fresh vegetables (+13.2%) and bread (+11.9%). Prices for food purchased from restaurants also went up.

Shelter costs rose 1.5% in the 12 months to November, matching the increase posted in October. The cost of fuel oil increased 24.4% in November after gaining 22.1% in October. Consumers also paid more for homeowners' replacement costs and electricity. Conversely, mortgage interest cost decreased 1.1% after falling 1.3% the month before.

Provinces: Gasoline and food purchased from stores still major factors in every province

Consumer prices rose in every province in November as gasoline and food purchased from stores continued to post large increases. The largest gain was recorded in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Newfoundland and Labrador posts largest price increase

Newfoundland and Labrador posts largest price increase

Chart description: Newfoundland and Labrador posts largest price increase

Prices in Newfoundland and Labrador rose 4.1% in the 12 months to November after increasing 3.5% the month before. Consumers paid 13.6% more for gasoline. The price of fuel oil advanced 24.9% following a 21.9% rise in October.

In Ontario, prices went up 2.5% in the 12 months to November, after advancing 2.7% the previous month. Of all the provinces, Ontario posted the smallest year-over-year increase for gasoline (+11.6%) and the largest 12-month gain for food purchased from stores (+6.7%). Ontario consumers also paid more in passenger vehicle insurance premiums and for homeowners' replacement costs.

Prices in Quebec rose 3.2% on a year-over-year basis in November, following a 3.3% increase the month before. Gasoline prices went up 14.7%, following a 19.9% rise in October. Consumers also paid more for food purchased from restaurants, meat and fuel oil.

In Alberta, prices advanced 3.2% in the 12 months to November, after gaining 3.4% in October. In addition to gasoline, Alberta consumers paid more for electricity. Prices for passenger vehicle insurance premiums rose while homeowners' home and mortgage insurance increased 8.1%.

Prices in British Columbia went up 2.3% in the 12 months to November, matching the increase the month before. Gasoline prices increased 12.8% while homeowners' home and mortgage insurance rose 12.7%. Consumers also paid more for food purchased from restaurants.

Seasonally adjusted monthly Consumer Price Index increases

On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, consumer prices increased 0.1% from October to November, after rising 0.3% from September to October. The transportation index went up 0.5% in November after advancing 1.3% the month before.

Seasonally adjusted monthly Consumer Price Index increases

 Seasonally adjusted monthly Consumer Price Index increases

Chart description: Seasonally adjusted monthly Consumer Price Index increases

The index for household operations, furnishings and equipment rose 0.3% while the food index increased 0.2%. The shelter index fell 0.2% in November following a 0.6% rise in October. The clothing and footwear index fell 0.8%.

Bank of Canada's core index

The Bank of Canada's core index, which excludes eight of the Consumer Price Index's most volatile components as well as the effects of changes in indirect taxes on the remaining components, rose 2.1% in the 12 months to November. This matched the rise posted in October. Increases were recorded for passenger vehicle insurance premiums, meat and bakery products.

The seasonally adjusted monthly core index increased 0.1% in November, after rising 0.2% in October.

For a more detailed analysis, consult the publication The Consumer Price Index.

Available on CANSIM: tables 326-0009, 326-0012, 326-0015 and 326-0020 to 326-0022.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2301.

More information about the concepts and use of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) are also available online in Your Guide to the Consumer Price Index (62-557-X, free) from the Key resource module of our website under Publications.

The November 2011 issue of The Consumer Price Index, Vol. 90, no. 11 (62-001-X, free), is now available from the Key resource module of our website under Publications. A more detailed analysis of the CPI is available in this publication.

The Consumer Price Index for December will be released on January 20, 2012.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Statistics Canada's National Contact Centre (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 613-951-8116; infostats@statcan.gc.ca), Communications Division.