Consumer Price Index, October, 2015, published November 20-, (2002=100)

Posted by on Nov 24, 2015 in Featured | Comments Off on Consumer Price Index, October, 2015, published November 20-, (2002=100)

The Consumer Price Index rose by 1.0% in October compared with October 2014, matching the annualized increase in September.     

The CPI in October for goods was up 0.2% from a year earlier while the CPI for services rose 1.9%.

Gasoline prices decreased 17.1% from October 2014, after falling 18.8% in September.  Overall, energy prices fell 10.4% between October 2014 and October 2015, following a 10.8%  annualized rate of decrease in September.  Excluding energy, the annualized Consumer Price Index rose 2.1% in October, unchanged from the rate of annualized increase reported in September.

Food prices rose 4.1%  in the 12 months to October, after a 3.5% rate of annualized increase was posted in September.  The cost of  food purchased from stores in the 12 months to October grew by 4.6%, up from a 3.9% increase in September.  Prices for fresh fruits increased 13.0% from October 2014.  The dairy products  index rose following a decrease in September.  Prices for food purchased from restaurants advanced 2.7% on a year-over-year basis, unchanged from September.

Costs associated with shelter rose 1.1% in October over October 2014 matching  the rise in September.  The natural gas index decreased 10.9% in the 12 months to October, after declining 4.4% in the previous month.  Property taxes rose 3.0% on a year-over-year basis.

Consumers paid 1.1% more for household operations, furnishings and equipment in October compared to October 2014, unchanged from the rate of increase recorded in September.

Transportation prices fell 3.2% in the 12 months to October 2015, following a 3.5% decrease in September.  This year-over-year decrease was mainly due to consumers paying 2.2% less for gasoline.

In the 12 months to October 2015, consumer prices rose in nine provinces.  The CPI grew the most in  Manitoba (+1.9%), followed by Saskatchewan and Alberta, both of which recorded a 1.4% increase.  Ontario posted a 0.9% year-over-year gain while Quebec reported a 0.7% annualized increase.  The  only decline occurred in Prince Edward Island (-0.8%).