Higher gas and natural gas prices pushed inflation up in January, but not by much.
Statistics Canada says the Consumer Price Index rose one-tenth of a percentage point to 1.9 per cent last month over December.
It was 1.8 per cent in December.
Gas prices rose 8.6 per cent last month year-over-year, and natural gas increased 4.8 per cent.
Without gas and natural gas, inflation was 1.7 per cent.
The cost of food, restaurant meals, and other items impacted by the GST/HST Holiday helped decelerate inflation on those items.
The cost of groceries dipped 0.6 per cent, the first drop in those prices since May 2017. At restaurants, costs fell 5.1 per cent. The price of toys, games (not including video games), and hobby supplies fell 6.8 per cent after December's 7.2 per cent drop. Alcoholic beverages, also included in the tax holiday, were down 3.6 per cent in January.
Canadians paid 0.4 per cent more for a passenger vehicle than 12 months ago. The price of a new car or truck increased 2.3 per cent year-over-year, but used vehicles continued to decelerate for the 13th consecutive month, down 3.4 per cent.
In Ontario, inflation was slightly lower than across Canada, at 1.7 per cent.
The Consumer Price Index report for February is due on March 18.
