US EditionCanada's annual inflation rate fell to 1.8% in February, war's impact not yet reflected
Annual inflation dropped to 1.8% in February due to last year's federal sales tax holiday; core inflation measures remained near 2.3%, with future rises expected from oil price shocks.
- On March 16, 2026, Statistics Canada reported Canada's annual inflation rate was 1.8 in February, with consumer prices rising 0.5% month-over-month.
- The end of last year's federal sales tax holiday was the main factor lowering last month’s headline inflation, as lower prices from the tax break affected only half of February last year, Statistics Canada said.
- Core measures showed the CPI-median and CPI-trim at 2.3%, while shelter costs rose 1.5%, rent climbed 3.9%, and grocery prices eased to 4.1%.
- The Bank of Canada will factor the figures into its Wednesday decision as the central bank holds its key policy rate at 2.25%, with two-year government bond yields falling to 2.731% and the Canadian dollar firming to $1.3679.
- Many economists expect energy pressures will push headline inflation higher, as StatCan noted gasoline prices started to creep higher at the end of the month in recent weeks.
50 Articles
50 Articles
Inflation Fell to 1.8 Percent In February, Driven by 2025 GST Holiday: StatCan
Canada’s annual inflation rate fell to 1.8 percent in February from 2.3 percent in January, according to a new Statistics Canada report. The slowdown was “largely driven” by a monthly rise in prices in February of last year at the end of a two-month GST holiday introduced by the Liberal government of then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, according to StatCan’s March 16 report. Starting Dec. 14, 2024, Trudeau introduced a policy removing the GST on…
Toronto, Canada, 16 Mar (EFE).- Inflation in Canada slowed sharply in February and was 1.8% year-on-year, compared to 2.3% in January, driven mainly by the fall in energy prices, reported on Monday by the public agency Statistics Canada (EC). The decline in inflation was largely due to the sharp reduction in the price of gasoline, which fell by 14.2% compared to February 2025, and natural gas, which fell by 17.1%.
The Toronto Star
Annual inflation cools to 1.8% in February, StatCan says
OTTAWA - Statistics Canada says the annual rate of inflation dipped below two per cent in February as the end of last year’s federal “tax holiday” helped take some steam
In Quebec, inflation stood at 2.8% in February, after reaching 3.0% in January.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 62% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
