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 22^nd, 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