Price of basic necessities rose last year: StatsCanada
29.06.2008 22:01
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- Source: cbc.ca
Consumer prices rose by 2.2 per cent last year, a slight increase over 2006, says Statistics Canada. In an analysis published Thursday, Statistics Canada found last year's increase — which compares to the two per cent rise the year before — was driven largely by price jumps in life's basic necessities, namely food and shelter. Statistics Canada researchers blamed the increase on a tight housing market, particularly in the resource-rich western provinces, and on price increases for grain and gasoline. But they also said the increase was moderated by lower prices for electronics, and for buying and leasing passenger vehicles. "Faced with higher prices for frequently purchased commodities and lower prices for those not frequently purchased, consumers might perceive that inflation was increasing at a faster pace than measured by aggregate inflation," the authors note. They also noted that consumer prices were more variable across the provinces than at any time since 1994. Increases ranged from a high of five per cent in Alberta to a low of 1.5 per cent in Newfoundland and Labrador. The report said although consumer prices increased at a faster pace last year in Canada, the rate of increase was lower than in most industrialized countries. Overall, last year's rise in prices was the fastest rate of growth since the 2.8 per cent average increase in 2003. The consumer price index measures the cost of a basket of eight goods and services, including housing, transportation, food and clothing. Consumer HeadlinesWinter storms, cold cause schedule slippage for Via RailAlmost half of Via Rail's passenger trains arrived late over the winter, and many were very tardy, says a new report.Canadians spending their tourism dollars at home Tourism spending in Canada rose 1.3 per cent during the first three months of this year, as Canadians' spending at home grew, while foreign spending continued to slide, Statistics Canada said Friday. U.S. authorities weigh in on stealth advertising When you see a TV character reach for an Oreo cookie, would you like to know if Nabisco paid for that to happen?Rogers announces iPhone 3G packages Voice and data plans for Apple Inc.'s much-anticipated iPhone 3G will start at $60 per month when the smartphone hits Canadian stores on July 11, Rogers Wireless said Friday.Top court sides with Honda in landmark wrongful-dismissal caseThe Supreme Court of Canada has overturned a lower court's decision to award a former Honda employee thousands of dollars in punitive damages for being fired without cause. Consumer Life FeaturesYour InterviewCarbon taxStephane Dion's plan explainedENERGYGasolinePeculiar pump price protestsTRAVELNavigating NicaraguaOnce-troubled nation becoming tourist destinationBLOGFood BytesSign of summerBLOGComm-OdditiesGripe about your neighbour on RottenNeighbor.comPeople who read this also read …
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