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Canada’s Inflation Cools to 2.2% in October Amid Cheaper Gas and Groceries

  Motorists fuel up at an ONroute gas station near Maple, Ont., on April 1, 2025. Lower gas prices helped bring overall inflation down in October, Statistics Canada says. Canada’s annual inflation rate eased to 2.2% in October , down from 2.4% in September. The slowdown was largely driven by falling gasoline and grocery prices, offering some relief to consumers after months of persistent cost pressures. Key Drivers of the Decline Gasoline prices dropped 4.8% month-over-month , as retailers switched to cheaper winter fuel blends and global crude oil prices fell due to oversupply concerns. Grocery prices fell 0.6% in October , marking the largest monthly decline since September 2020. Annual grocery inflation cooled to 3.4% , down from 4% in September, with lower costs for processed foods and fresh vegetables offsetting higher prices for chicken. Excluding gasoline, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.6% year-over-year , showing that underlying inflationary pressures remain....

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Market Tremors: U.S. Futures Dip as Inflation Heats Up

 


In a surprising twist that rattled investors, U.S. stock futures took a nosedive following a hotter-than-expected inflation report. The Consumer Price Index (CPI), a key gauge of inflation, rose by 0.4% over the previous month and 3.5% over the last year in March, surpassing the forecasts which anticipated a 3.4% annual increase. This acceleration from February’s 3.2% annual gain in prices has sparked concerns that the Federal Reserve may hold off on interest rate cuts, a decision heavily influenced by inflation trends.

The unexpected uptick has led to a significant drop in U.S. futures, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all experiencing over a 1% fall in anticipation of the market opening. This development is a stark reminder of the delicate balance central banks must maintain in their efforts to control inflation without stifling economic growth.

Investors are now bracing for potential turbulence in the markets, as they await further signals from the Federal Reserve on the future trajectory of monetary policy. The upcoming release of the Fed’s March meeting minutes is highly anticipated, with hopes that it will shed light on the policymakers’ stance on rate adjustments in the face of persistent inflationary pressures.

As the market absorbs the impact of the CPI report, all eyes will be on the Fed’s next move, making it clear that the path to economic stability is fraught with uncertainty.

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