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Canada’s Inflation Climbs to 2.4% as Gas Prices Surge to Record High

  Canada’s inflation rate accelerated to 2.4% in March , up from 1.8% in February, as the Iran war triggered the largest monthly gasoline price increase on record . Statistics Canada reported that gas prices surged 21.2% month‑over‑month , a supply‑shock response to Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and broader Middle East instability.  Energy costs were the dominant driver of March inflation, with overall energy prices rising 3.9% year‑over‑year after a sharp decline the month before. Excluding gasoline, inflation would have eased to 2.2% , highlighting how concentrated the price shock was.  Food inflation offered mixed relief: grocery prices rose 4.4% , while fresh vegetables jumped 7.8% due to difficult growing conditions. Restaurant inflation cooled sharply as last year’s tax‑holiday distortions fell out of the annual comparison.  Economists note that while headline inflation spiked, core measures remained relatively tame , giving the Bank of Canada ro...

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Health Canada authorizes updated Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine


Health Canada has authorized Pfizer-BioNTech’s updated COVID-19 vaccine for people six months and older.

The mRNA vaccine targets the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant that is circulating in Canada.

This is the second vaccine targeting XBB.1.5 that will be available in this country.

Earlier this month, Health Canada authorized Moderna's updated mRNA vaccine.

Both Pfizer and Moderna's shots are one-dose vaccines for people five years of age and older.

Three shots of the Pfizer vaccine is recommended for children between six months and four years of age who have not received their primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Health Canada says it is currently reviewing an updated non-mRNA vaccine from Novavax.

Novavax’s vaccine has been submitted for consideration for people age 12 years and older.

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