The Consumer Price Index rose by 1.1% in February compared with February 2013, following a 1.5% increase in January.
The CPI for goods increased by 0.3% in the 12 months to February while the CPI for services was up 1.8% over the same period.
Gasoline prices decreased 1.3% from February 2013, after gaining 4.6% in January. Overall, energy prices grew 1.6% between February 2013 and February 2014, following a 4.6% increase in January. Excluding energy, the Consumer Price Index rose 1.1% in February, after growing by 1.2% in January.
Food prices rose 1.1% in the 12 months to February, unchanged from the increase in January. The cost of food purchased from stores in the 12 months to February rose 1.0% after also rising 1.0% in the previous month. Prices for food purchased from restaurants advanced 1.1% on a year-over-year basis , after growing 1.3% in January.
Costs associated with shelter rose 2.2% in February over February 2013, after
increasing 2.1% in January. Consumers paid 4.7% more for electricity; 3.2% more in property taxes; and 1.5% more for rent.
Consumers paid 0.9% more for household operations, furnishings and equipment in February compared to February 2013 down from the annualized gain of 1.1% recorded in January.
Transportation prices gained 0.4% in the 12 months to February 2014, following a 2.0% increase in January. Consumers paid less for gasoline in the 12 months to February. In addition, they paid 0.3% less for the purchase of passenger vehicles, after paying 0.9% more in January.
In the 12 months to February 2014, consumer prices rose in nine provinces. The CPI grew the most in Prince Edward Island over February 2013 (+2.7%) followed by Alberta (+2.4%) and Saskatchewan (+2.3%). The CPI in British Columbia was down 0.3% from February 2013. The CPI in Ontario was up 1.5% and in Quebec it increased 0.4% over February 2013.