British Columbia saw the biggest drop in consumer prices in the country in April, according to Statistics Canada data released this morning.
B.C.'s Consumer Price Index (CPI) decreased by 1.1% from March to April, compared with a 0.2% drop nationwide.
Food cost British Columbians 4.3% less in April compared with one year previously. A possible cause is the province's return to the PST/GST regime in April, which taxes food less than under the HST system.
Year-over-year, B.C. was one of only two provinces with a decrease in consumer prices, falling 0.8% (New Brunswick's CPI dropped by 0.2%). Across Canada, prices increased 0.4% for the year.
The provinces with the greatest changes in CPI from March to April were:
- Prince Edward Island (increased 1.2%);
- Alberta (increased 0.5%); and
- New Brunswick (decreased 0.4%).
Across the country, shelter costs and food prices increased 1.3% and 1.5% for the year, respectively, while transportation costs dropped 2.1%.
