Inflation Jumps to 3.6% in Canada, Its Highest Since 2011
Shelly Hagan
Bloomberg
Inflation in Canada accelerated to its highest level in a decade, in what policy makers are saying will only be a temporary run-up in prices.
Consumer prices were up 3.6% in May from a year ago, the fastest annual gain since May 2011, Statistics Canada reported Wednesday in Ottawa. That’s up from a pace of 3.4% in April. Economists were predicting a 3.5% rate in May. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.5% versus forecasts for a 0.4% increase.
Core inflation, seen as a better measure of underlying price pressures, rose to 2.3% from 2.1%. That’s the highest reading since 2009.
The Bank of Canada — which is responsible for keeping inflation in check — is brushing off the spike, arguing it is being driven largely by one-off factors. The annual reading is distorted by year-ago comparisons when price fell sharply at the beginning of the pandemic, a phenomenon known as the base effect. Price pressures are also building as businesses scramble to balance a rush of demand against shortages of materials.
Still, Canada’s central bank expects continued excess supply in the economy will put downward pressure on prices once the base effects abate in coming months. If inflation proves more durable, however, it may force the Bank of Canada to bring forward interest rate increases that investors aren’t anticipating until later next year.
The central bank has said it expects inflation to remain around 3% over next several months before moderating. Governor Tiff Macklem will likely reiterate that message during testimony before Canadian senators Wednesday evening.
“The base effects, which are pushing up the headline inflation readings at the moment, should begin to fade in the June data, and continue to do so for some months thereafter,” Royce Mendes, an economist at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, said in a report to investors. “As a result, the Bank of Canada will continue to look through the recent acceleration in inflation.”
Cost of Living
Homeowner replacement costs in Canada rise fastest in over 30 years
Source: Statistics Canada
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A similar phenomenon also drove inflation higher in the U.S. last month to an annual 5% pace. Inflation in Canada is lower because of a slower reopening and recent gains in the Canadian dollar that is dampening prices for imported goods.
Rising prices for cars were among the biggest drivers of inflation last month. Car prices are up 5% from a year earlier, in part because of supply chain issues related to a shortage of semiconductor chips globally. Gasoline also gained in May, and is up 43% from a year earlier when prices were still affected by the pandemic shutdowns.
Canada’s hot housing market is also factor in the inflation story amid robust demand for single family homes and rising costs of construction materials like lumber. The costs of owning a home are up 11.3% from a year ago, the largest annual increase since 1987.
— With assistance by Erik Hertzberg
(Updates with economist quote, details throughout.)
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