Consumer Price Index, February 2019
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Released: 2019-03-22
February 2019
1.5% 
(12-month change)
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 1.5% on a year-over-year basis in February, up from a 1.4% increase in January. Excluding gasoline, the CPI rose 2.1%, matching the gain in January.
Today, Statistics Canada is launching a new interactive Consumer Price Index Data Visualization Tool that allows users to quickly identify changes and contributions to changes of the Consumer Price Index on a monthly and annual basis.
Chart 1
The 12-month change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the CPI excluding gasoline
Component highlights
All eight major components were up year over year in February, with the shelter index (+2.4%) contributing most to the increase.
Chart 2
Consumer prices increase in all major components
Energy prices were 5.7% lower compared with February 2018, following a larger decline the previous month. Year-over-year price declines for gasoline (-11.9%) and fuel oil and other fuels (-1.5%) were smaller in February than in January. Tighter oil supplies and the temporary closure of several refineries for seasonal maintenance affected prices at the pump, leading to the first month-over-month increase in the gasoline index since July 2018.
On a year-over-year basis, consumers paid more for fresh vegetables (+14.3%) and fresh fruit (+3.8%) in February compared with January. The purchase of passenger vehicles index rose 1.4% year over year, due, in part, to lower rebates on 2019 model-year vehicles.
The services index rose 2.3% year over year in February, following a 2.7% increase in January. The cost of Internet access services fell 9.2% on a year-over-year basis amid a series of price promotions. Consumers paid less for traveller accommodation (-4.7%) and travel tours (-3.4%) compared with February 2018. These declines were partially offset by an increase in the mortgage interest cost index (+8.1%), which partly reflected higher interest rates offered by commercial banks during the last 12 months. Rent prices increased 0.4% month over month in February.
Regional highlights
Consumer prices rose more in five provinces in February on a year-over-year basis compared with the previous month. This growth was most pronounced in the Prairie provinces, where prices for gasoline rose the most on a month-over-month basis in February.
Chart 3
Consumer prices rise at a faster rate in five provinces
In Ontario, consumer prices for various services increased less on a year-over-year basis in February compared with January. Prices for food purchased from restaurants (+2.2%), personal care services (+1.6%), child care and housekeeping services (+1.3%) and alcoholic beverages served in licensed establishments (+2.3%) rose at a slower pace in February than in January. Price increases in these indexes in February 2018, which followed a legislated minimum wage increase the previous month, no longer affected the 12-month movement in February 2019.
Seasonally adjusted monthly Consumer Price Index
On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the CPI rose 0.3% in February, following a 0.1% decline in January. The transportation index (+0.9%) reported the largest increase, while the household operations, furnishings and equipment index (-0.3%) decreased.
Note to readers
Rent index
Users are reminded that the methodology for the rent index was updated with the January 2019 Consumer Price Index (CPI) as part of the regular review of CPI methodology. Interpretation of the 12-month price change indicator should be made with caution, particularly in the year following the implementation of the new methodology.
Check out the new Consumer Price Index Data Visualization Tool!
This dashboard provides access to current and historical CPI data in a dynamic and customizable format. Check out the latest CPI snapshot to find out what's currently driving price changes in the CPI. Explore key CPI indicators and compare price changes of all the goods and services in the CPI basket over time and by geography.
This web-based application is updated monthly with the release of the CPI.
Visit our new interactive Consumer Price Index Data Visualization Tool.
Real-time data tables
Real-time data table 18-10-0259-01 will be updated on April 8.
Next release
The CPI for March will be released on April 17.
Products
The interactive Consumer Price Index Data Visualization Tool is available on the Statistics Canada website.
More information about the concepts and use of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is available in The Canadian Consumer Price Index Reference Paper (62-553-X).
For information on the history of the CPI in Canada, consult the publication Exploring the First Century of Canada's Consumer Price Index (62-604-X).
Two videos, "An Overview of Canada's Consumer Price Index (CPI)" and "The Consumer Price Index and Your Experience of Price Change," are available on Statistics Canada's YouTube channel.
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; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@canada.ca).
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