Inflation surprisingly soft as cheaper food offsets higher gas prices
OTTAWA — The country’s annual inflation rate slowed to an unexpectedly weak pace last month as the continued decline in food prices played a big role in offsetting the higher cost of gasoline, Statistics Canada said Friday.
The latest inflation numbers appear to support the Bank of Canada’s assessment that despite months of improving data, the economy has more room to grow before it returns to full capacity.
Statistics Canada’s consumer price index reading of 1.6 per cent shows the pace of inflation decelerated from February’s year-over-year reading of two per cent, which was right on the Bank of Canada’s ideal target.
Economists had predicted 1.8 per cent inflation for March, according to Thomson Reuters.