Inflation rose in Canada last month by the largest margin we've seen in months.
According to Statistics Canada, February's national inflation rate was 2.6 per cent, up seven-tenths of a percentage point.
It was 1.9 per cent in January.
The biggest change nationwide was the end of the GST/HST holiday.
In December, the federal government paused the GST on many items, including children's toys and clothing, alcohol, restaurant meals, and snacks.
The two-month holiday ended on February 14.
The Consumer Price Index report said a jump in the price of restaurant meals contributed the most to last month's increase, although the cost of eating out only rose 1.4 per cent after January's 5.1 per cent rise.
Gas prices rose 5.1 per cent year-over-year, following January's 8.6 per cent jump. The monthly increase was 0.6 per cent because of higher refining costs and planned maintenance at North American refineries. Lower crude prices and the threat of tariffs limited the jump.
Travelling costs substantially more than it did a year ago. Those costs increased by 18.8 per cent year-over-year because of an increase in demand over the U.S. President's Weekend.
The monthly increase in travel tours was 23.3 per cent over January.
Statistics Canada releases the March Consumer Price Index report on April 15.
