OTTAWA: Canadian consumer prices rose 2.4 percent in June, inching up from the 2.3 percent annual rate in May, Statistics Canada said Friday.
The June uptick in the consumer price index (CPI) was based on across-the-board price increases, and met analyst expectations.
Higher prices for housing, food and transportation played the biggest part, with the province of Ontario posting the biggest hit to people's wallets, according to the government agency.
Consumers paid more for natural gas and property taxes last month -- overall shelter costs rose 2.9 percent year-on-year -- while electricity also became more expensive, moving up by 4.2 percent.
Canadians paid 2.9 percent more for food in June than a year earlier, with meat costing 9.4 percent more and fresh vegetables prices surging 9.5 percent.
Meanwhile, the prices of new passenger vehicles rose 1.6 percent compared with a year ago while gasoline spiked 5.4 percent. Overall, the country's transportation index rose 2.2 percent.
Alcohol and tobacco also saw an increase, with the common index for the products up 4.1 percent in the 12 months -- mostly due to a 10.3 percent spike in cigarette prices year-on-year.
With fewer discounts last month than a year earlier, price tags for clothing and footwear rose 1.6 percent, significantly higher than the 0.6 percent hike in May.
Excluding food, energy and tobacco prices, core CPI was up 1.8 percent, compared with the 1.7 percent increase in May.
The core number, closely watched by the Bank of Canada in setting monetary policy, remained below the central bank's 2.0 percent inflation objective.
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