Statistics Canada data this morning showed that headline inflation in Canada slowed last month, while measures of underlying prices strengthened to their highest level in 18-months.
Canada’s consumer-price index rose +1.7% y/y in January, following a +1.9% advance in December.
Market expectations were for a +1.5% lift. On a month-over-month basis, prices rose +0.7% in January versus an expected print of +0.4%.
Digging deeper, today’s report indicated underlying, or core, inflation strengthened in the month. Underlying prices rose in a range from +1.8% to +1.9%, for an average of +1.83% – the highest level since mid-2016. The average in the previous month was +1.76%.
The ‘loonie’ is up +0.51% against the U.S dollar, trading atop of C$1.2659. The CAD was trading north of C$1.2712 just before this morning’s release.
