Higher gas and electricity prices drove up Saskatchewan’s annual inflation rate to 1.6 per cent in January.
That’s up from 0.6 per cent in December.
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A primary driver of the increase was gas, according to Statistics Canada, which was up 27.8 per cent from January 2016.
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Electricity prices were up 8.8 per cent from a year ago, the largest 12-month increase since May 2010.
Prices were up in six of the eight major components led by transportation at 6.9 per cent.
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The exceptions were food, which was down 3.4 per cent, and household operations, down 0.9 per cent due to a 1.9 per cent decrease in homeowners’ replacement cost.
READ MORE: Gas prices are up but consumers are paying less for food, January inflation rate shows
Canada’s inflation rate in January was 2.1 per cent due to a surge in gasoline prices.
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