27°c A few clouds
15°c Cloudy periods
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Manitoba's cost of living edges up
The cost of living in Manitoba edged up a bit in September, as consumers forked out more for things like gasoline, furniture and home and mortgage insurance, Statistics Canada said today.
The agency said Manitoba’s annual inflation rate edged up to 1.7 per cent from 1.6 per cent in August.
That was the fourth highest rate among the provinces. Newfoundland and Labrador had the highest rate at 2.2 per cent, while British Columbia had the lowest at 0.5 per cent.
Consumer items that saw some of the biggest prices increases between September of last year and September of this year in Manitoba were furniture (up 11.8 per cent), homeowners’ home and mortgage insurance (11.4 per cent), homeowners’ maintenance and repairs (10.7 per cent) and gasoline (8.8 per cent), Statistics Canada said.
Canada’s annual inflation rate remained stuck at 1.2 per cent for the third consecutive month in October, continuing a level of stability that will give the Bank of Canada little reason to adjust interest rates.
The consumer price index compiled by Statistics Canada was slightly higher than economists had anticipated, given that gasoline prices were known to have fallen during the month, but still at the low end of the central bank’s target range.
The core inflation — which measures underlying price pressures by excluding volatile items such as energy — stood at 1.3 per cent in October, also below expectations.
Statistics Canada reported gasoline prices were down 1.2 per cent from September — not as big a decline as anticipated and still 4.0 per cent higher than a year earlier.
The consensus estimate had been for the annual inflation rate to fall to 1.1 per cent, which would have been the lowest since June 2010 when it was 1.0 per cent.
The central bank has set a target of keeping the inflation rate between 1.0 and 3.0 per cent.
Despite the low inflation rate and concerns about the global economy, Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney has stuck to saying that interest rates are likely to rise at some point. The statements seem primarily to be a warning to consumers, who have racked up record-high personal debt during a period of prolonged low borrowing costs.
— with files by Canadian Press
murray.mcneill@freepress.mb.ca
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
More Local
(1 of 20 articles for today)
Man wanted after two banks robbed
11:11 AM 0Two bank robberies in broad daylight kept Winnipeg police busy Tuesday afternoon.
The first theft occurred at approximately 2 p.m. in ...
Poll
Most Popular Local
- Mountie hospitalized, dog euthanized after crash near Saskatoon
- Community's children apprehended by province
- Glover quits quarrel over election costs
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- MP Glover files new version of disputed 2011 election expenses
- Métis ready to ring bell again
- City-wide average mosquito count drops
- Ex's Mach 3 an adrenaline accelerator
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Poolside feeding prompts eviction
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Stoppage of play off the field
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- Kenyan wins Manitoba Marathon
- Traffic heavy as Bomber fans flock to U of M
- St. Norbert's hopping
- Father blasts 'horrific' movie
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Car in deadly crash stolen?
- UPDATE: Now with FAQ: Keeping the e-party going without the party-crashers
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Daycare provider charged with abandonment
- Poolside feeding prompts eviction
- Two people killed in crash north of Winnipeg
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Province blows off wind megawatt goal
- Métis ready to ring bell again
- Community's children apprehended by province
- Bible Belt's bogeyman still haunts town
- Province's new approach to teaching math long overdue: readers
- Kids of St. Ignatius make Sweet gesture to beloved crossing guard
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- Mountie hospitalized, dog euthanized after crash near Saskatoon
- Ex's Mach 3 an adrenaline accelerator
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Province blows off wind megawatt goal
- $110-K worth of nickel plates stolen from Thompson mine
- Known as kind, outgoing men
- A day in the life of 13,380 Manitoba Marathon participants
- Doctors blamed for death
- Stoppage of play off the field
- Bomber fans wowed by new stadium
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Father blasts 'horrific' movie
- Teachers support adding sexual-orientation themes to all curricula
- The crime fighter's revolution
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Car in deadly crash stolen?
- City's first urban reserve born
- On board with the Snowbirds
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.