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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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French Government to Resign: A Caretaker Transition Amid Political Turmoil

 

French President Emmanuel Macron is poised to accept the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and his government by the end of the day. This move comes after an inconclusive snap election, but the current administration will remain in a caretaker capacity until a new cabinet is appointed. Here’s what you need to know:

  1. Caretaker Government: Attal’s government will continue to handle emergency situations and manage current affairs in the euro zone’s second-largest economy. However, they won’t be able to propose new legislation or make significant changes. Notably, this caretaker government will oversee the smooth running of the upcoming Olympics, scheduled to begin on July 26.

  2. Left-Wing Struggles: Left-wing parties are embroiled in a bitter dispute over who should be the next prime minister. The New Popular Front (NFP), an alliance of socialists, Greens, and communists, unexpectedly topped the vote in the recent snap election. However, tensions persist over forming a left-wing government.

  3. Mainstream Alliance: President Macron has called for mainstream parties to forge an alliance, potentially including elements of the NFP but excluding France Unbowed. The urgency to find a solution is high, as Communist party leader Fabien Roussel warns of a potential “shipwreck” if consensus isn’t reached.

In summary, France faces a delicate political landscape as it navigates this caretaker transition. The fate of the next government remains uncertain, and all eyes are on the negotiations between competing factions. Stay tuned for further developments.


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