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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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TSX Futures Slide Amid Global Market Turmoil

 

Futures linked to Canada’s main stock index took a tumble on Tuesday, echoing the brutal sell-off seen across global markets on Monday. The trigger? Recession fears in the United States.

September futures on the S&P/TSX index were down 1.8% at 6:48 a.m. ET (10:48 GMT). Investors worldwide scrambled toward safe-haven assets after weaker U.S. economic data last week raised concerns about a recession in the world’s largest economy.

While investor sentiment was partially soothed by a rebound in U.S. services sector activity and signals of rate cuts from Federal Reserve policymakers, the benchmark U.S. S&P 500 and Nasdaq both closed 3% lower on Monday.

Canadian markets were closed for a holiday, but attention remains on domestic employment figures due later this week and a host of Fed policymakers scheduled to speak throughout the month.

In corporate news, Suncor Energy and iA Financial are set to report their quarterly figures after the closing bell today.

Commodities at 6:48 a.m. ET:

  • Gold futures: $2,423 (+0.5%)
  • U.S. crude: $73.32 (+0.5%)
  • Brent crude: $76.62 (+0.4%)

Stay tuned for further updates as the market volatility continues.





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