B.C.’s consumer prices climbed 1.3% in the 12 months to May, rising slightly faster than the national average increase of 1.2%, according to a report released this morning by Statistics Canada.
The report found that, nationally, price increases eased in May, compared with the national average rise of 2.0% in April. However, it noted that the Consumer Price Index in B.C. did not ease to the same extent as other provinces. May’s 1.3% rate was down only marginally from the province’s 1.6% 12-month rise posted in April.
Statistics Canada noted that gasoline prices in B.C. decelerated the least of any province.
Nationally, the energy index fell 1.6% in the 12 months to May, for its first year-over-year decline since October 2009. National gas prices continued to post declines, dropping 2.3% after 22 months of year-over-year increases. Electricity prices, however, continued to rise.
