Canada's annual inflation rate picked up in October as a rise in gasoline prices was offset by the first decline in food prices in nearly 17 years, but economists did not expect the figures to alter the central bank's accommodative stance. The annual rate was 1.5 percent, data from Statistics Canada showed on Friday, up from September's 1.3 percent and matching analysts' expectations. The increase still left inflation below the Bank of Canada's 2 percent target, which it renewed last month.
The core rate, which strips out some volatile items, cooled slightly to 1.7 percent from 1.8 percent, the lowest level since July 2014. However, the figures garnered less attention than usual as the central bank plans to drop the gauge in favor of three different measures of core inflation. Statistics Canada will begin publishing those figures next month.
A 2.5 percent annual increase in gasoline prices drove total inflation higher. The cost of shelter rose 1.9 percent, the biggest increase since January 2015 due to higher costs to maintain the value of the home and a rise in property taxes. But food prices declined 0.7 percent on an annual basis, the first decrease since January 2000. The cost of food bought at stores tumbled 2.1 percent in the biggest decline since July 1992 as prices for fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy all fell.
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