Rising gas prices pushed B.C.’s inflation up in April, according to Statistics Canada.
Consumer prices increased 2.7% in B.C. in the 12 months leading up to April, the national statistical agency said Friday, following a 3.1% increase in March.
Comparatively, the national rate of inflation was 3.3% in April.
Transportation costs – notably an increase in prices at the pump – posted the largest increases in April.
Gasoline prices were up 26.4% across Canada, bringing them to a level that’s only 5% below a record high in July of 2008.
Fuel-oil prices, meanwhile, were up 32.4% and electricity prices rose 7% in April. In B.C., gas prices were up 19.8% in the 12 months to April.
“In addition to paying more for gasoline, consumers paid more in passenger vehicle insurance premiums and for air transportation,” Statistics Canada said.
The only energy category to show a price decline was natural gas, which saw its value drop 4.8% in the 12 months to April.
Joel McKay
@jmckaybiv