Food prices helped drive up Canada’s inflation rate in January,
Statistics Canada has reported.
In January, the food price index was 4.6 percent higher than in January
2001. It helped push the overall Consumer Price Index up 1.3 percent,
its highest jump in months.
The federal agency said the biggest push in the food index came from
sharply higher prices for imported American fresh fruits and vegetables.
“The fresh vegetables index advanced 12.2 percent in January as the
worst U.S. harvests since 1974 continued to drive up prices,” said the
Statistics Canada report. Vegetable prices were on average 16.4 percent
above year-earlier levels.
There also were higher prices for beef and restaurant meals, according
to the federal agency.
