OTTAWA, April 19 (UPI) -- The cost of living in Canada jumped 3.3 percent on an annual basis in March, led by rising energy prices, Statistics Canada reported Tuesday.
"Excluding energy, the Consumer Price Index rose 2.4 percent in the 12 months to March, following a 1.4 percent increase in February," the agency said. "Prices for food purchased from stores rose 3.7 percent in March, the largest year-over-year advance since August 2009."
Within the energy sector, gasoline prices increased 18.9 percent in March on the heels of a 15.7 percent gain in the 12 months to February. Prices for fuel oil rose 31.3 percent on an annual basis and electricity cost 4.3 percent.
Bad weather in Mexico and the southern United States was attributed to an 18.6 percent increase in the price of fresh vegetables, while higher beef and pork prices pushed up the cost of meat up 5 percent in March, StatsCan said.
"For alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, prices rose 2.5 percent in March with cigarette prices increasing 5.7 percent," the agency said.
