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12-month change:

  1. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 1.0% in the 12 months to March, following a 1.2% increase in February.
  2. The slower increase in the CPI was mainly the result of gasoline prices, which fell 0.3% on a year-over-year basis in March, after rising 3.9% in February.
  3. Consumer prices rose in six of the eight major components in the 12 months to March. The exceptions were transportation, and health and personal care, both of which posted no change.
  4. Consumer prices rose in all provinces in the 12 months to March. The largest increase was registered in Manitoba, while the smallest increase occurred in British Columbia.

Month-to-month change:

  1. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the CPI increased 0.1% in March, after increasing 0.7% in February.
  2. On a monthly basis and before seasonal adjustment, the CPI rose 0.2% in March, after increasing 1.2% in February.

Bank of Canada’s Core Index:

  1. The Bank of Canada’s core index rose 1.4% in the 12 months to March, matching the increase in February.

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

Main upward contributors:

  1. Food purchased from restaurants (+2.2%)
  2. Rent (+1.6%)
  3. Property taxes (+2.8%)
  4. Homeowners’ replacement cost (+2.1%)
  5. Tuition fees (+3.7%)

Main downward contributors:

  1. Mortgage interest cost (-4.0%)
  2. Gasoline (-0.3%)
  3. Video equipment (-9.6%)
  4. Air transportation (-3.7%)
  5. Travel tours (-4.8%)

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

Main upward contributors:

  1. Clothing (+6.0%)
  2. Travel tours (+11.6%)
  3. Footwear (+1.5%)
  4. Household appliances (+1.4%)
  5. Gasoline (+0.2%)

Main downward contributors:

  1. Purchase of passenger vehicles (-1.5%)
  2. Traveller accommodation (-2.5%)
  3. Fresh vegetables (-2.3%)
  4. Dairy products (-0.9%)
  5. Fresh fruit (-1.7%)