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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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Stock Market Reacts to Surprising Inflation Data


In a surprising turn of events, the stock market experienced a significant downturn as recent inflation data came in unexpectedly high. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.4% over the previous month and 3.5% over the prior year in March, surpassing the anticipated figures. This acceleration from February’s 3.2% annual gain in prices has dampened hopes for imminent interest rate cuts.

As a result, major stock indices fell sharply. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by approximately 1.1%, while the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite saw declines of nearly 1% and 0.9%, respectively. Concurrently, bond yields soared, with the 10-year Treasury yield reaching its highest level since November at nearly 4.57%.

This market reaction reflects investors’ recalibrated expectations, with many now betting on the Federal Reserve maintaining current rate levels through June and possibly July, pushing the likelihood of an initial rate cut to September. The latest Federal Reserve policy meeting minutes revealed that officials are open to lowering interest rates “at some point,” but the timing remains uncertain.

Amidst these developments, crude oil futures rebounded following reports of potential conflict escalation in the Middle East, which could further impact market dynamics. The situation remains fluid, with investors closely monitoring the interplay between inflation trends and central bank policies.




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