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CPI at 1.2% for September in Canada 2012

As usual our Friends at Stats Canada published a mixed bag of news with their CPI Report for September 2012, however the CPI (inflation) is back down to low(er) levels at 1.2%, even with food prices and energy prices fluctuating a great deal over the past few months.

Consumer prices rose 1.2% in the 12 months to September, matching the increase in August. Higher energy prices, particularly for gasoline and electricity, led the advance in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September. This was tempered by lower year-over-year price increases for the purchase of passenger vehicles and for food purchased from stores.

So inflation is remaining at a stable rate, however, remember that is simply saying that prices are increasing at the same rate (not the prices are not rising).

Energy prices again were the culprit last month for a year over year inflation increase, as Energy prices increased (year over year) by 2.9% which while small(ish) is still twice the inflation level. Gas prices certainly have been all over the place in Ottawa, but they are back down to $1.20 for now (after a big jump around the long weekend, what an interesting coincidence).

CPI Inflation Canada
The CPI for the past little while, with and withOUT energy included in the index

The preceding graph is important to look at and think about. Energy prices also have a nasty effect of rippling into other price increases (since energy rolls into transportation for food and other products). What parts of energy are increasing?

Gasoline prices rose 4.7% in the 12 months to September, following a 2.2% gain the previous month. Compared with August, higher year-over-year price increases for gasoline were recorded in eight provinces, most notably in the Atlantic region.

The cost of electricity rose 6.0% year over year in September after rising 3.4% in August. Increases in Ontario and Alberta continued to lead the rise at the national level.

Yikes, is all I can say to that one. I must admit my electrical bill has been growing steadily for the past few years, and Ontario Hydro promises me that trend will continue, yea?!?

The Actual CPI basket of Goods cost increase over the past little while

This is important to have, as it points out that the CPI measurement is the cost of a basket of goods, that at the start of the index was at 100, and you see the steady increase in cost over time.

Bank of Canada’s core index

These numbers are very important, but of even more significance is how the Bank of Canada measures inflation, as this is the data they will use to decide whether interest rates need to rise or not:


The Bank of Canada’s core index rose 1.3% in the 12 months to September, following a 1.6% increase in August. The slower rate of increase was mostly attributable to smaller price increases for the purchase of passenger vehicles.

So the Bank still has little reason to increase interest rates due to inflation (for now).

The Big Table

Remember that the Stats Canada site has a plethora of really interesting statistics, so go read them and see where all the “talking heads” on TV base their interpretations of where we stand on inflation in Canada.

Consumer Price Index and major components, Canada – Not seasonally adjusted

  Relative importance Sept 2011 August 2012 September 2012 August to Sept 2012 Sept 2011 to Sept 2012
  % (2002=100) % change
All-items Consumer Price Index (CPI) 100.002 120.6 121.8 122.0 0.2 1.2
Food 15.99 128.2 131.7 130.3 -1.1 1.6
Shelter 27.49 125.7 127.4 127.2 -0.2 1.2
Household operations, furnishings and equipment 11.55 111.6 112.7 113.2 0.4 1.4
Clothing and footwear 5.31 95.0 89.5 93.3 4.2 -1.8
Transportation 20.60 126.3 127.5 128.3 0.6 1.6
Health and personal care 4.95 117.5 119.8 118.5 -1.1 0.9
Recreation, education and reading 11.20 106.9 107.6 107.7 0.1 0.7
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products 2.91 135.9 137.8 137.7 -0.1 1.3
Special aggregates            
Core CPI3 82.15 118.4 119.7 119.9 0.2 1.3
All-items CPI excluding energy 89.92 117.8 118.8 118.9 0.1 0.9
Energy4 10.08 156.0 159.2 160.6 0.9 2.9
Gasoline 5.80 180.4 184.9 188.8 2.1 4.7
All-items CPI excluding food and energy 73.93 115.5 116.0 116.4 0.3 0.8
Goods 47.80 113.5 114.0 114.2 0.2 0.6
Services 52.20 127.8 129.6 129.8 0.2 1.6
1. 2009 CPI basket weights at April 2011 prices, Canada, effective May 2011. Detailed weights are available under the Documentation section of survey 2301 (www.statcan.gc.ca/imdb-bmdi/2301-eng.htm).
2. Figures may not add to 100% as a result of rounding.
3. The Bank of Canada’s core index excludes eight of the Consumer Price Index’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. For additional information on the core CPI, please consult the Bank of Canada website (www.bankofcanada.ca/rates/indicators/key-variables/inflation-control-target/).
4. The special aggregate “Energy” includes: electricity; natural gas; fuel oil and other fuels; gasoline; and fuel, parts and supplies for recreational vehicles.

Feel Free to Comment

  1. Thank you for providing such a detailed information. I live in the USA and consumer energy and deregulation is a moving topic as state by state is being deregulated

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