Consumer Price Index, April 2012

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Consumer prices rose 2.0% in the 12 months to April, led by increases in transportation costs. This increase followed a 1.9% rise in March.

Energy prices increased 1.1% in the 12 months to April, following a 5.1% rise in March. The slower increase in April was largely attributable to smaller price gains for gasoline and electricity, as well as price declines for natural gas (-13.9%).

Chart description: The 12-month change in the CPI and the CPI excluding energy

CSV version of the chart

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) excluding energy rose 2.1% in the 12 months to April, following a 1.6% increase in March. The upward pressure on the All-items CPI coming from energy has eased over the last year. April marks the first month since October 2009 in which energy prices increased at a slower rate than the All-items CPI.

12-month change

In April, prices rose year over year in all eight major components. Increases in transportation and food were major contributors to the 12-month change in the CPI.

Chart description: Prices rise in all eight major components

CSV version of the chart

Transportation costs increased 3.2% on a year-over-year basis in April. Prices for the purchase of passenger vehicles went up 3.4% while gasoline prices rose 3.3%. Year-over-year price gains were also recorded for passenger vehicle insurance premiums.

Gasoline prices have been rising in recent months, pushing April's gasoline index to its highest level since July 2008. Nevertheless, the year-over-year increase in gasoline prices in April 2012 was the smallest since September 2010, partly because of near-record prices in April 2011.

Chart description: The gasoline index

CSV version of the chart

Prices for food rose 2.5% in April compared with the same month a year earlier. This rise followed a 2.2% year-over-year increase in March. Consumers paid 2.4% more for food purchased from stores in the 12 months to April and 2.8% more for food purchased from restaurants. Price increases were recorded for most food items, notably for meat and cereal products.

Shelter costs increased 1.1% in the 12 months to April, following a 1.6% rise in March. Prices declined for natural gas, while homeowners' replacement cost and rent increased.

In April, prices for household operations, furnishings and equipment rose 2.6% compared with April 2011. Prices increased for communications services.

Clothing and footwear prices rose 2.4% on a year-over-year basis, as stores continued to offer new spring and summer wear.

The provinces

In April, year-over-year price increases in the Atlantic provinces were among the highest in the country. Newfoundland and Labrador posted the largest increase at 3.0%, while Alberta posted the lowest.

Chart description: The provinces

CSV version of the chart

In Alberta, consumer prices rose 0.8% in the 12 months to April, after increasing 1.7% in March. This slower rate of growth was largely attributable to price declines for electricity and natural gas.

Consumer prices rose 2.4% year over year in Quebec, 2.1% in Ontario, and 1.6% in British Columbia. Price increases for food purchased from stores, gasoline and the purchase of passenger vehicles were the main contributors to the increases in these provinces.

Seasonally adjusted monthly Consumer Price Index increases

On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the CPI increased 0.2% in April, matching the increase in March. Prices rose in five of the eight major components.

The seasonally adjusted index for transportation rose 0.4% in April, following a 0.3% increase the month before. The clothing and footwear index increased 1.1% in April, after decreasing 0.6% in March.

The indexes for shelter; household operations, furnishings and equipment; and health and personal care were unchanged.

Bank of Canada's core index

The Bank of Canada's core index rose 2.1% in the 12 months to April, led by price increases for the purchase of passenger vehicles. This increase followed a 1.9% gain in the core index in March.

On a monthly basis, the seasonally adjusted core index increased 0.4% in April, after rising 0.1% the previous month.