Canada’s inflation rate rose to 2.8% in April from 2.4% in March as higher gasoline and energy prices drove up consumer costs.
The gasoline prices increased 28.6% year over year in April after rising 5.9% in March. Energy prices overall climbed 19.2%.
Part of the increase reflected last year’s drop in gasoline and natural gas prices after the federal consumer carbon levy was removed in April 2025. With those lower prices no longer part of the annual comparison, annual inflation moved higher this April.
Excluding gasoline, inflation slowed to 2.0% from 2.2% in March.
Fuel oil and other fuels rose 41.3% year over year as oil prices increased amid conflict in the Middle East and supply concerns. Gasoline prices were also affected by the shift to more expensive summer fuel blends.
Rent prices rose 3.6% annually in April, slower than the 4.2% increase recorded in March. Nationally, rents are still 30.8% higher than they were in April 2021.
Food purchased from stores increased 3.8% year over year.
Clothing and footwear prices rose 2.0% after declining 0.4% in March.
Travel tour prices fell 11.0% year over year after rising 11.5% a month earlier.
British Columbia was the only province where inflation did not accelerate, with consumer prices rising 2.5%, unchanged from March. Quebec’s inflation rate edged up to 3.0% from 2.9%.
On a monthly basis, the Consumer Price Index rose 0.4% in April, or 0.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis.