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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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Trump Eases Auto Tariffs to Support U.S. Manufacturing

President Donald Trump has taken a significant step to alleviate concerns in the automotive industry by signing executive orders to relax his 25% tariffs on automobiles and auto parts. This move comes after warnings from automakers and analysts that the tariffs could raise prices, reduce sales, and make U.S. production less competitive globally.

The revised policy introduces temporary rebates for vehicles assembled in the U.S. with foreign parts, aiming to ease the financial burden on manufacturers. Trump described the changes as a "bridge" to encourage automakers to shift more production to the United States. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized that the goal is to create more domestic manufacturing jobs and strengthen the U.S. auto industry.

Automakers like General Motors and Ford have expressed gratitude for the relief measures, highlighting their commitment to investing in American manufacturing. Industry leaders also noted that the adjustments would provide time to reconfigure supply chains and ramp up domestic production.

This policy shift underscores the administration's focus on balancing trade policies with the need to support domestic industries and jobs.

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