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Canada's Inflation Jumps to 2.4% in March — And Your Grocery and Gas Bills Show It

Canada's annual inflation rate climbed to 2.4% in March 2026 , up sharply from 1.8% in February, according to Statistics Canada data released Monday. The jump was driven almost entirely by soaring energy prices tied to the U.S.-Iran conflict and its disruption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz — and Canadians felt it directly at the gas pump and grocery store. Headline CPI (March) 2.4% ▲ Up from 1.8% in February Gasoline (monthly) +21.2% Largest monthly jump on record Grocery prices (year/year) +4.4% Up from 4.1% in February Core CPI (ex-gas) 2.2% Milder than expected Gas was the main culprit Gasoline prices surged a record 21.2% month over month in March — the largest single-month jump ever recorded in Canada — as the U.S.-Iran conflict choked off roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz. On a year-...

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Stock Market Today: Dow Extends Slide as Lackluster Earnings and Rate Fears Weigh on Investors’ Spirits

 

US stocks faced further losses on Thursday, with lingering concerns about higher-for-longer interest rates and a Salesforce sell-off dampening investor spirits. Here are the key points from today’s market:

  1. Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI): The Dow sank as much as 1%, shedding roughly 380 points, following Wednesday’s stock market slide. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) dropped about 0.6%, while the broader S&P 500 (GSPC) fell 0.5%.

  2. Interest Rate Worries: Renewed gloom about the odds for rate cuts contributed to the stock market decline. Data showed less cooling in inflation than the Federal Reserve desires, driving US bond yields to their highest levels since early May. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield hovered around 4.6%.

  3. Salesforce Results: Salesforce (CRM) reported that sales growth would stall to the slowest rate in its history, causing its shares to slide 15%. This sparked concerns about likely losers in the AI boom.

  4. US Economic Growth: The Bureau of Economic Analysis revised the first-quarter US gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate to 1.3%, down from the initial reading of 1.6% in April.

  5. Retail Earnings: Retailers Kohl’s (KSS) and Best Buy (BBY) provided clues to consumer resilience and economic health. Kohl’s shares cratered after a surprise quarterly loss and a cut to its annual sales forecast, while Best Buy posted a bigger drop in comparable sales than expected.

Despite these challenges, investors remain watchful for any signs of economic recovery and potential market shifts. 



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