Consumer Price Index, October 2015
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Released: 2015-11-20
October 2015
1.0% 
(12-month change)
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 1.0% in the 12 months to October, matching the increase in September.
Lower energy prices continued to moderate the year-over-year rise in the CPI, led by the gasoline index, which was down 17.1% in the 12 months to October.
Chart 1
The 12-month change in the Consumer Price Index
12-month change in the major components
Prices were up in seven of the eight major components on a year-over-year basis in October, with the rise in the CPI led by higher prices for food. Increases in the shelter index and the household operations, furnishings and equipment index also contributed to higher consumer prices. The transportation index, which includes gasoline, recorded its 12th consecutive year-over-year decline.
Chart 2
Consumer prices increase in seven of eight major components
Food prices were up 4.1% year over year in October, after increasing 3.5% in September. This acceleration was attributable to higher prices for food purchased from stores, which increased 4.6% year over year in October, after rising 3.9% the previous month. Prices for fresh fruit increased more in the 12 months to October (+13.0%) than in September (+8.5%). In addition, the dairy products index increased year over year in October, following a decrease the previous month. Prices for food purchased from restaurants were up 2.7% year over year.
The index for recreation, education and reading rose 1.9% in the 12 months to October, following a 2.5% increase in September. This deceleration was partly attributable to the traveller accommodation index, which was up 4.8% year over year in October, after rising 10.8% the previous month.
The shelter index was up 1.1% on a year-over-year basis in October, matching the rise in September. The natural gas index decreased 10.9% in the 12 months to October, after declining 4.4% the previous month. Conversely, property taxes rose 3.0% on a year-over-year basis, after being up 2.2% year over year since last October.
The transportation index declined 3.2% year over year in October, after decreasing 3.5% in September. This smaller year-over-year decline was mainly attributable to gasoline prices, which fell 2.0% on a month-over-month basis in October, a smaller monthly decrease than the index recorded in the same month last year.
12-month change in the provinces
Consumer prices rose in nine provinces in the 12 months to October. Manitoba posted the largest increase, followed by Saskatchewan and Alberta. The CPI in Prince Edward Island registered its 11th consecutive year-over-year decline.
Chart 3
Consumer prices rise in nine provinces
The CPI in Manitoba rose 1.9% in the 12 months to October, after increasing 1.3% in September. Gasoline prices declined less on a year-over-year basis in October (-10.4%) than in September (-18.2%). The children's clothing index was up 7.5% in the 12 months to October, after decreasing 2.1% in September.
In Prince Edward Island, the CPI was down 0.8% year over year in October, matching the decrease in September. The fuel oil index posted a smaller year-over-year decrease in October (-21.9%) than in September (-31.3%). In contrast, the clothing index and the personal care supplies and equipment index decreased more on a year-over-year basis in October than the previous month.
Nova Scotia's CPI increased 0.3% in the 12 months to October, after posting no change in September. This acceleration was mainly attributable to the fuel oil index, which was down less on a year-over-year basis in October (-22.4%) than the previous month (-26.8%). In addition, the furniture index was down 1.7% year over year in October, compared with a 9.4% decline in September.
Quebec was the lone province to record a smaller year-over-year increase in its CPI in October (+0.7%) than in September (+1.0%). Prices for footwear in the province declined 2.4% in the 12 months to October, after increasing 5.5% the previous month. In addition, the purchase of passenger vehicles index posted a smaller year-over-year increase in October (+0.5%) than in September (+1.2%).
Seasonally adjusted monthly Consumer Price Index increases
On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the Consumer Price Index increased 0.2% in October, following a 0.2% decrease in September.
Chart 4
Seasonally adjusted monthly Consumer Price Index
In October, four of the eight major components increased on a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, three indexes posted no change, while the recreation, education and reading index declined.
On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the largest increase in October was recorded in the food index (+0.5%), followed by the shelter index (+0.3%).
Bank of Canada's core index
The Bank of Canada's core index was up 2.1% in the 12 months to October, matching the increase in September.
The seasonally adjusted core index was up 0.2% on a monthly basis in October, after increasing 0.1% in September.
Note to readers
The special aggregate "energy" comprises electricity, natural gas, fuel oil and other fuels, gasoline, and fuel, parts and accessories for recreational vehicles.
A seasonally adjusted series is one from which seasonal movements have been eliminated. Users employing Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for indexation purposes are advised to use the unadjusted indexes. For more information on seasonal adjustment, see Seasonally adjusted data – Frequently asked questions.
The Bank of Canada's core index excludes eight of the 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.
With this release, data on inter-city indexes of price differentials of consumer goods and services, appearing in CANSIM table 326-0015, have been updated to October 2014.
As part of a periodic review and update of index methodologies for various components of the CPI, an improved methodology for the Internet access services index will be implemented with the November 2015 reference month CPI (published on December 18, 2015). For more information, refer to Changes of the Internet Access Services Index of the Consumer Price Index.
For a more detailed report of the CPI, consult the publication The Consumer Price Index.
Next release
The CPI for November will be released on December 18.
Products
The October 2015 issue of The Consumer Price Index, Vol. 94, no. 10 (62-001-X), is now available from the Browse by key resource module of our website under Publications.
More information about the concepts and use of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is available in The Canadian Consumer Price Index Reference Paper (62-553-X).
For information on the history of the CPI in Canada, consult the publication Exploring the first century of Canada's Consumer Price Index (62-604-X).
A video providing an overview of the CPI is available on Statistics Canada's YouTube channel.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@canada.ca).
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