Consumer prices – the Adjusted price index and monthly adjusted consumer expenditure basket weights

Released: 2022-02-24

The Adjusted price index and the monthly adjusted consumer expenditure basket weights for the reference months October to December 2021 are available.

The data table for the Monthly adjusted consumer expenditure basket weights now includes data for May to December 2021. The data table for the Adjusted price index, monthly percentage change now includes data for June to December 2021.

Consumer expenditures in the fourth quarter of 2021

The share of consumer spending on recreation, education and reading remained lower than the official Consumer Price Index (CPI) basket weight (9.40%) in October (9.05%), but rose higher in November (10.17%) and December (11.34%). Canadians directed a larger proportion of their spending to travel services, as many international borders re-opened and travel restrictions were eased.

The monthly adjusted basket weight for clothing and footwear trended higher than the official CPI basket weight (3.99%) in October (5.12%), November (5.60%) and December (5.96%).

Although the adjusted basket weight for the transportation component remained higher than the official CPI basket weight (15.96%) in October (16.92%) and November (16.26%), it fell below it in December (13.75%). Canadians directed a lesser share of household expenditures to gasoline in December as prices fell at the pump.

For food, the adjusted basket weight was lower than the official CPI basket weight (16.24%) in October (16.00%) and November (15.42%), but rose above it in December (16.33%). Canadians' share of spending on groceries increased in December as prices for food purchased from stores grew at the fastest pace since November 2011.

The adjusted basket weight for shelter was relatively stable from October to December 2021, averaging 28.68%, slightly below the official CPI basket weight (30.03%).

Infographic 1 
Official Consumer Price Index basket weights and monthly adjusted consumer expenditure basket weights

Adjusted price index grows at a slower pace than official Consumer Price Index in November and it falls more than the latter in December

In October 2021, the Adjusted price index and the official CPI had the same month-over-month movements at the all-items level. The Adjusted price index month-over-month movements at the all-items level were 0.1 percentage points lower than the official CPI in November and December 2021.

In November, the Adjusted price index (+0.1%) grew at a slower pace than the official CPI (+0.2%), while in December the Adjusted price index (-0.2%) fell at a faster pace than the official CPI (-0.1%), a difference of 0.1 percentage points in both months.

In November, the difference between the one-month change in the Adjusted price index and the official CPI was due in large part to travel tours. A price decrease for travel tours had more of an impact on the Adjusted price index, slowing the growth rate.

In December, a price decrease for clothing had more of an impact on the Adjusted price index than on the official CPI. A decrease in the price of video equipment also contributed to the difference, as this component had a higher weight in the Adjusted price index in November (0.81%) and December (1.02%) than in the official CPI basket (0.65%). Both clothing and video equipment have historically shown this seasonal price pattern in the month of December.

Note that while the official CPI is a non-revisable measure, the Adjusted price index series is revisable. For more detailed information, consult the document entitled "Adjusted Price Index and Monthly Adjusted Consumer Expenditure Basket Weights."

Contact information

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).