Highlights:

1. Consumer prices rose 0.1% in the 12 months to October 2009, on the heels of a 0.9% decrease in September. On an unadjusted monthly basis, consumer prices fell 0.1% from September to October, after being unchanged for two consecutive months.

All-items Consumer Price Index (CPI):

1. The rise in the CPI was mostly due to less downward pressure from gasoline prices. Consumers paid 13.1% less at the pump in October than they did a year earlier, compared with a 23.0% drop in September.
2. Energy prices fell 12.7% between October 2008 and October 2009, following a drop of 18.7% in September.
3. All major components in the CPI recorded increases in October, except transportation (-3.1%) and shelter (-1.6%).
4. Upward pressure on the 12-month change came primarily from higher food prices (+2.3%), household operations, furnishings and equipment (+2.6%), and recreation, education and reading (+1.5%).

Main contributors to the 12-month change in the CPI:

Main upward contributors:

1. Passenger vehicle insurance premiums (+7.7%)
2. Property taxes (+4.3%)
3. Food purchased from restaurants (+2.7%)
4. Education (+4.4%)
5. Homeowners’ maintenance and repairs (+7.2%)

Main downward contributors:

1. Gasoline (-13.1%)
2. Natural gas (-30.3%)
3. Purchase of passenger vehicles (-4.1%)
4. Mortgage interest cost (-3.1%)
5. Fuel oil and other fuels (-29.4%)

Main contributors to the monthly change in the CPI, not seasonally adjusted:

Main upward contributors:

1. Property taxes (+4.3%)
2. Purchase of passenger vehicles (+0.8%)
3. Passenger vehicle insurance premiums (+0.6%)
4. Footwear (+2.1%)

Main downward contributors:

1. Gasoline (-2.2%)
2. Traveller accommodation (-4.6%)
3. Meat (-1.3%)
4. Mortgage interest cost (-0.6%)