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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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G7 Commits to Accelerating Fossil Fuel Transition, but Activists Remain Skeptical

 

Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) developed democracies have pledged to accelerate their transition away from fossil fuels during this decade. The draft statement from their summit in Italy outlines a commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, in line with the best available science. However, climate activists remain critical, citing a lack of concrete commitments and the fact that many pledges were already agreed upon in previous meetings. The G7’s focus on phasing out coal power generation and reducing methane emissions is commendable, but some environmentalists express disappointment over the allowance for public investments in natural gas. As the COP29 United Nations climate conference approaches, the G7 leaders plan to submit more ambitious national climate plans. 

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