OTTAWA, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Canada's cost of living rose 2.9 percent on an annual basis in December, with transportation and food prices leading the gains, Statistics Canada said Friday.
All eight sectors of the Consumer Price Index showed increases on an annual basis.
Within transportation, the cost of gasoline rose 7.6 percent in the 12 months to December after advancing 13.5 percent in November. The price of new passenger vehicles fell 0.2 percent in December.
"Consumers paid 4.4 percent more for food in the 12 months to December, following a 4.8 percent increase the month before," StatsCan said. Fresh vegetables were 11.1 percent more expensive than a year prior while bread prices rose 8.8 percent and meat was up 5.3 percent, the report said.
The shelter sector was up 1.8 percent overall. Within it, the cost of electricity rose 5.4 percent and there were smaller increases for fuel oil and homeowners' replacement costs, the report said.
