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Canada's Inflation Jumps to 2.4% in March — And Your Grocery and Gas Bills Show It

Canada's annual inflation rate climbed to 2.4% in March 2026 , up sharply from 1.8% in February, according to Statistics Canada data released Monday. The jump was driven almost entirely by soaring energy prices tied to the U.S.-Iran conflict and its disruption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz — and Canadians felt it directly at the gas pump and grocery store. Headline CPI (March) 2.4% ▲ Up from 1.8% in February Gasoline (monthly) +21.2% Largest monthly jump on record Grocery prices (year/year) +4.4% Up from 4.1% in February Core CPI (ex-gas) 2.2% Milder than expected Gas was the main culprit Gasoline prices surged a record 21.2% month over month in March — the largest single-month jump ever recorded in Canada — as the U.S.-Iran conflict choked off roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz. On a year-...

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U.S. stocks open mixed and turn lower after inflation report as Fed decision looms


  • Inflation data: The U.S. cost of living increased 0.1% month over month and 3.1% year over year in November, slightly higher than expected. Core inflation was in line with estimates at 0.3% month over month and 2.3% year over year.
  • Market reaction: U.S. stocks opened mixed and turned lower after the inflation report, as investors weighed the implications for interest rates and the Fed’s policy outlook. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.43%, the S&P 500 slid 0.39%, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.2% on Tuesday.
  • Fed decision: The Federal Reserve is set to announce its interest rate decision on Wednesday, with no change expected in the current range of 5.25% to 5.50%. The Fed is also expected to provide an update on its balance sheet reduction plan and its economic projections for 2024 and beyond.
  • Market outlook: The S&P 500 index is near its record high, having gained 20.4% year to date, partly on hopes of slowing inflation and rate cuts in the future. However, some analysts warn that the inflation trend is still above the Fed’s 2% target and that the central bank may have to tighten monetary policy more than expected to keep inflation under control.

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