The Consumer Price Index rose by 1.0% in September compared with September 2014, down from August’s 1.3% rate of annualized increase.
The CPI in September for goods was down 0.1% from a year earlier while the CPI for services rose 1.9%.
Gasoline prices decreased 18.8% from September 2014, after falling 12.6% in August. Overall, energy prices fell 10.8% between September 2014 and September 2015, following a 7.2% annualized rate of decrease in August. Excluding energy, the annualized Consumer Price Index rose 2.1% in September, up from 2.0% in August.
Food prices rose 3.5% in the 12 months to September, after a 3.6% rate of annualized increase was posted in August. The cost of food purchased from stores in the 12 months to September grew by 3.9%, down from a 4.0% increase in August. Prices for fresh vegetables increased 11.5% from September 2014. The meat index rose 4.4% following a 6.3% increase in August. Prices for food purchased from restaurants advanced 2.7% on a year-over-year basis, down from 2.8% in August.
Costs associated with shelter rose 3.5% in September over September 2014 after increasing 1.1% in August.
Consumers paid 1.1% more for household operations, furnishings and equipment in September compared to September 2014, down from the 2.5% rate of increase recorded in August.
Transportation prices fell 3.5% in the 12 months to September 2015, following a 2.3% decrease in August. This year-over-year decrease was mainly due to consumers paying less for gasoline. In contrast, the price for the purchase of passenger vehicles was up 1.6%, after an annualized increase of 0.6% in August.
In the 12 months to August 2015, consumer prices rose in nine provinces. The CPI grew the most in Saskatchewan (+1.4%), followed by Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia, all three of which recorded a 1.3% increase. Ontario posted a 0.9% year-over-year gain while Quebec recorded a 1.0% annualized increase. The only decline occurred in Prince Edward Island (-0.8%).