The Consumer Price Index rose by 0.4% in April compared with April 2012 following a 1.0% increase in March.
Gasoline prices decreased 6.0% from April 2012, after falling 0.3% in March. The decrease in April was the largest year-over-year decline in gasoline prices since October 2009. Excluding gasoline, the CPI was up 0.8% over a year earlier, following a 1.1% annualized increase in March.
Overall, energy prices fell 1.9% between April 2012 and April 2013, following a 0.3% increase in March. Excluding energy, the Consumer Price Index rose 0.7% in April after gaining 1.1% in March.
Food prices rose 1.5% in the 12 months to April, following a 1.8% increase in March. Consumers paid 1.2% more for food purchased from restaurants in the 12 months to April, following a 2.2% increase in March. They also paid more for food purchased from stores, as prices rose for meat (+3.2%). In contrast, prices for sugar and confectionery declined 2.8%.
Costs associated with shelter rose 1.3% in April over April 2012, up from the 1.1% gain posted in March. Electricity prices and rent advanced year-over year while mortgage interest cost decreased 4.3% in April over a year earlier.
Consumers paid 1.5% more for household operations, furnishings and equipment in April compared to April 2012, after rising 1.8% in March.
Transportation prices declined 2.1% in the 12 months to April 2013 after posting no change in the previous month. In addition to price decreases for gasoline, prices for the purchase of passenger vehicles fell 0.7% from April 2012 after increasing 0.8% in March.
In the 12 months to April 2013, consumer prices rose in eight provinces. However, the increases in these eight provinces were all less than 2.0%. The CPI grew most in both Prince Edward Island and Manitoba (+1.8%) followed by Alberta (+1.3%). The CPI declined in British Columbia (-0.8%) and New Brunswick (-0.2%). The CPI in both Ontario and Quebec increased 0.4% over April 2012.