The Consumer Price Index rose by 1.2% in June compared with June 2012 following a 0.7% increase in May.
Gasoline prices increased 4.6% from June 2012, after falling 1.5% in May. Gasoline prices increased in the 12 months to June in all provinces, with Manitoba and Alberta posting the largest gains.
Overall, energy prices rose 4.1% between June 2012 and June 2013, following a 1.0% increase in May. Excluding energy, the Consumer Price Index rose 0.9% in June, after an annualized increase of 0.7% in May.
Food prices rose 1.2% in the 12 months to June, following a 1.3% increase in May. Consumers paid 1.3% more for food purchased from stores in the 12 months to June, as prices rose for fresh vegetables (+5.1%) and meat (+2.2%). In contrast, prices for sugar and confectionery declined 4.3% in the 12 months to June.
Costs associated with shelter rose 1.2% in June over June 2012, after increasing 1.3% in May. Natural gas prices and rent rose on a year-over-year basis. Mortgage interest cost decreased 3.8% in June over a year earlier.
Consumers paid 1.0% more for household operations, furnishings and equipment in June compared to June 2012, after rising 1.1% in May.
Transportation prices gained 2.0% in the 12 months to June 2013, following a 0.5% decrease in May. The acceleration in the transportation index was led by gasoline prices. In addition to price decreases for gasoline, prices for the purchase of passenger vehicles rose 2.0% from June 2012. The year-over-year increase in June was mainly attributable to smaller monthly declines in June 2013 compared with the same month last year.
In the 12 months to June 2013, consumer prices rose in nine provinces. The CPI grew the most in Manitoba over June 2013 (+2.7%), followed by Alberta (+2.3%) and Prince Edward Island (+2.2%). The CPI declined in British Columbia (-0.5%). The CPI in Ontario was up 1.3% and in Quebec increased 1.0% over June 2012.