Consumers paid 1.2% more for the goods and services they purchased between January 2006 and January 2007, a somewhat slower pace than the one of 1.6% in December.
The core CPI, used by the Bank of Canada to monitor its inflation-control target, rose by 2.1% between January 2006 and January 2007, following a 2.0% increase in December.
On a monthly basis, the all-items index edged up 0.1% in January 2007, following two consecutive monthly gains of 0.2%.
This update, which will occur on June 19, 2007, is designed to ensure the CPI's reliability as a measure of inflation, a statistical series deflator and a tool for indexing various payments and transfers. For more information, consult the article released in The Daily on January 23, 2007 entitled: "Consumer Price Index: A preview of the upcoming basket update".
The 12-month change: Continued upward pressure from higher housing costs: The 12-month change in the all-items index again grew at the fastest pace in Alberta. Prices there rose 3.9% on average in January 2007 compared with January 2006. However, this was a slower rate of growth than the 12-month gain of 4.7% posted in December 2006.
The 12-month change in the all-items index also surpassed the national average in January 2007 in British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces posted gains below the national all-items CPI.
Nationally, the continued pressure of prices in the owned accommodation sector remained the key factor in the 12-month increase in the all-items CPI in January.