Canadian prices, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose 1.9 per cent on a year-over-year basis in January, up from a 1.8 per cent increase in December. Month-over-month, on a seasonally adjusted basis, CPI increased by 0.1 points in January. Excluding energy, the CPI rose 1.7 per cent in January. Overall, shelter price growth continues to cool, as mortgage interest costs were up 10.2 per cent, marking the seventeenth consecutive month of deceleration. Similarly, rent was up 6.3 per cent in January year-over-year, down from 7.1 per cent in December. In BC, consumer prices rose 2.2 per cent year-over-year, down from 2.6 per cent in December. The Bank of Canada's preferred measures of median and trimmed inflation, which strip out volatile components, both rose to 2.7 per cent year-over-year. 
 
Inflation continues to hold close to target as a rise in energy prices has been offset by price reductions in many goods affected by the GST/HST tax break. However, January saw slight increases in the Bank's core measures, indicating some lingering upward momentum on a quarterly basis. Nonetheless, this report is unlikely to sway the Bank of Canada away from its plan to cut the overnight rate by 25 basis points during their next meeting.

Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission.