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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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Stock Market Stumbles as Trump Reaffirms Tariffs

                                            

The stock market took a hit on Friday as President Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to imposing sweeping tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 0.8%, the S&P 500 dropped by 0.5%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite lost 0.3%.

Investors are concerned about the potential impact of these tariffs on the economy, as they could lead to increased costs for consumers and businesses. The White House confirmed that the tariffs, which include a 25% duty on goods from Mexico and Canada and a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, will take effect on Saturday.

Despite earlier optimism driven by solid earnings from Apple and an inflation reading that matched expectations, the tariff news overshadowed these positive developments. The uncertainty surrounding the tariffs has left Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell in a wait-and-see mode, with the potential for tariffs to inflame inflation being a key concern.

As the market closes, investors are bracing for the impact of these tariffs and the potential for further volatility in the coming days.




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