Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

The rate of inflation in British Columbia, at 2.2% was the highest amongst all Canadian Provinces – while those receiving Employment Insurance INCREASED to 39,530 (+1.6%)



You likely don’t subscribe to the BC Infoline, but it seems the BC NDP government wants to keep re-releasing OLD BAD NEWS.  If the embarrassment means that much to them, here it is for you yourself to see:

Consumer Price Index ... March 22nd, 2019

British Columbia’s consumer price index (CPI) was 2.2% higher (unadjusted) in February 2019 than in the same month of 2018. On a monthly basis, the rate of inflation rose 0.5% from January 2019.

The overall annual inflation rate increases by 2.3% when food and energy are excluded from the index.

The cost of food climbed 2.9% since February of 2018.

Prices for groceries purchased from stores (+3.0%) and meals purchased from restaurants (+3.0%) were both up from the previous year. Within the food category, the highest rise in prices was for fresh vegetables (+8.4%), fish and other seafood (+6.6%), fresh fruit (+5.4%), and coffee and tea (+3.2%).


The cost of shelter continued to climb in February (+3.2%), with prices for both renters (+3.4%) and home owners (+2.9%) rising. Within the shelter category, there were increases in the cost of utilities, including piped gas (+10.5%), fuel oil and other fuel (+3.3%), and electricity (+2.8%).

The overall cost of clothing and footwear was also on the rise (+2.6%) compared to February 2018. The price for clothing (+2.3%) and footwear (+3.8%) increased.


The transportation index rose 1.4% in February, with the price of both private (+0.7%) and public (+3.3%) transportation going up. The price of gasoline (‑4.4%) decreased since February 2018, and public transportation passengers paid more to travel between cities (+3.3%).

Compared to a year ago, consumers paid more for alcoholic beverages and tobacco products (+5.6%), household operations and furnishing (+1.7%), and health and personal care (+1.7%), and recreation, education and reading (+1.2%).

Consumer prices rose in both Vancouver (+2.2%) and Victoria (+2.3%) compared to February 2018.

Canada’s CPI was up 1.5% (unadjusted) in February. The rate of inflation in British Columbia (+2.2%), Manitoba (+2.0%), Alberta (+1.6%), and Ontario (+1.5%) were highest among the provinces.

Visit the Consumer Price Index page for more information

You may also be interested to note that the number of regular Employment Insurance (EI) recipients in B.C. climbed (+1.6% seasonally adjusted) to 39,530 in January, resulting from an increase in the number of both male (+1.8%) and female (+1.4%) beneficiaries.

Nationally, the number was down (-2.2%) in January, with 435,600 Canadians receiving regular EI benefits.

Data Source: Statistics Canada
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BC Conservatives Point to Warning Signs in BC’s Economy

While Canada posted modest job gains in July, warning lights are still flashing in British Columbia. Youth unemployment remains stubbornly high, leaving too many first-time jobseekers shut out of the workforce. BC also lost 3,400 public administration jobs in July, likely as temporary Census positions ended. “BC's jobs divide remains stark. Unemployment is far higher in business-driven communities like Kelowna (9.3%) and Abbotsford-Mission (8.3%) than in Victoria (5.0%). Government should be focused on creating the conditions for private-sector investment and job growth,” said Gavin Dew, MLA for Kelowna-Mission and Shadow Minister for Economic Development. “We need an economy where young people can find work, businesses can hire, and every region has the opportunity to prosper.” This comes as BC faces five straight quarters where more businesses are closing than opening, an NDP cabinet rift over job-creating projects like Tilbury LNG, and fresh signs that even the province's to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Okanagan Farmers Face NDP-Created Water Crisis ~~ BC Conservatives

Okanagan farmers are facing a water crisis as government-imposed restrictions threaten to kill their crops and destroy one of B.C.’s most important agricultural industries. In perhaps the most water-rich province in the country, our farmers have been left high and dry by the NDP government. For nine weeks, Okanagan and Shuswap farmers have proposed solutions, only to be met with NDP foot-dragging. Now forest fires have come to these regions as they are simultaneously reckoning with a water crisis that has been made worse through years of government inaction. Vernon-area farms have lost 70 percent of their water, while Kelowna and Summerland growers face severe restrictions. This situation is unacceptable and cannot continue. Ian Paton, Shadow Minister for Agriculture, said the NDP is once again forcing farmers to pay for its own failure to plan. "Farmers and ranchers must be listened to when decisions affecting their livelihoods are made, and under the NDP, they aren’t," said...
Post a Comment
Read more

FORSETH: Without a strong local presence, there is NO reason for anyone to tune in to local(?) radio

LOCAL HOMETOWN RADIO IS DYING … and without serious measures put in place, it will likely never see the light of day again. For well over four decades, the Canadian Radio and Television Commission (CRTC) has presided over its’ demise, and for that I say, “Shame”. Without out a word to say enough was enough, the CRTC has allowed corporate Canada to buy up one radio station after the other, and then allowed them to slash staff to the point where some so-called local radio stations do nothing more than air programming that originates from communities well outside the region in which they are located. Case in point?   On CHNL* 610 in Kamloops, the morning show hosted by Vinnie and Randi, DOES NOT originate from Kamloops -- it doesn’t even originate here in BC. It’s a program that Stingray airs across multiple radio stations in Western Canada. It doesn’t end there. Not only are Vinnie and Rando doing mornings on CHNL, but they also show up on sister station Country 103 … and of course o...
5 comments
Read more

Labels

Show more