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Annual pace of inflation cools to 2.2% in February from 2.4% in January

Mar 18, 2020 | 7:15 AM

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says the consumer price index in February rose 2.2 per cent compared with a year ago.

The increase comes after a year-over-year increase of 2.4 per cent in January.

Economists had expected a reading of 2.1 per cent for February, according to a poll by financial markets data firm Refinitiv.

Statistics Canada says prices rose on a year-over-year basis in seven of the eight major components it tracks, with transportation and shelter prices contributing the most to the overall increase.