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Consumer Price Index
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is an indicator of changes in consumer prices experienced by Canadians. It is obtained by comparing, over time, the cost of a fixed basket of goods and services purchased by consumers. Since the basket contains goods and services of unchanging or equivalent quantity and quality, the index reflects only pure price change.

The CPI is widely used as an indicator of the change in the general level of consumer prices or the rate of inflation. Since the purchasing power of money is affected by changes in prices, the CPI is useful to virtually all Canadians. Consumers can compare movements in the CPI to changes in their personal income to monitor and evaluate changes in their financial situation.
For the latest information and historical data, please contact the individual listed below:

Thomas Storring
Director of Economics/Statistics
Tel:902-424-2410
Email: Thomas.Storring@novascotia.ca


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Currently displaying information released on: June, 2018

ANALYSIS OF NOVA SCOTIA'S CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR MAY 2018

In Nova Scotia May 2018, year over year growth for the All-Items Consumer Price Index was 2.3 per cent, above the national average of 2.2 per cent. Monthly consumer prices were down 0.4 per cent in Nova Scotia and up 0.1 per cent in Canada.

Within Atlantic Canada, PEI had the highest year over year consumer price inflation (+2.4 per cent), followed by Nova Scotia, New Brunswick (+2.1%), and Newfoundland and Labrador (+1.8%). 

In May 2018, all provinces experienced positive year over year inflation.

Nova Scotia's annual consumer price inflation (year over year growth in CPI) excluding food and energy rose 1.4 per cent in May, below the national rate of 1.7 per cent. Price level gains for this index were largest in BC (+2.4%) and Saskatchewan (+2.3%) and lowest in Newfoundland and Labrador (+1.0 per cent). On a monthly basis, Nova Scotia's index excluding food and energy was down 0.6 per cent.

 
The main contributors to the monthly (May 2018 vs. April 2018) NS CPI movement:
Non-prescribed medicines  (+5.0%)
Gasoline (+5.0%)
Traveller Accommodation (-13.8%)
Fresh or frozen pork (-14.8%) 
 
The main contributors to the annual (May 2018 vs. May 2017) NS CPI movement:
Gasoline (+21.5%)
Fuel oil and other fuels (+14.8%)
Fresh fruit (-7.5%)
Fresh or frozen pork (-19.7%)
 
The CPI for food in Nova Scotia decreased 0.8 per cent year-over-year with a 1.1 per cent decrease month-over-month. CPI growth in food (year over year) was up in seven provinces. Nationally, annual food prices increased 1.0 per cent. 

The Nova Scotia energy index increased by 13.3 per cent compared to a year ago, upwardly influenced by gasoline and other fuels. Energy price growth was smallest in Ontario (+7.8%) on a year over year basis, and largest in Alberta (+20.6%). Nationally, the index was up 11.6 per cent.  


 
Major Components for May 2018

The following table shows the price increases specific to Nova Scotia for the major components of the CPI this month:
 
Long Run Trends
 
The All-Items CPI year over year inflation rate for Nova Scotia was above Canada's in May 2018.  Nova Scotia's annual inflation has remained below the Canadian average since mid-2014, with the exception of only a few months. It has, however, been above the Canadian average for the past four months. While month to month movements in the indices can be different, over time they generally follow the same overall trend.

Annual inflation for the CPI excluding food and energy was lower for Nova Scotia (+1.4 per cent) than for Canada (+1.7 per cent).

 

Bank of Canada's preferred measures of core inflation

Compared with May 2017, CPI-Common, CPI-Median, and CPI-Trim all rose 1.9 per cent in Canada.  All-items CPI excluding eight of the most volatile components as defined by the Bank of Canada and excluding the effect of changes in indirect taxes (formerly referred to as CPIX) rose 1.3 per cent year over year in May 2018.  

 

Appendix Tables and Charts

 

 

Source: Statistics Canada CANSIM Tables 326-0020 , 326-0023

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX MAY 2018



NOVA SCOTIA
In Nova Scotia May 2018, the consumer price index (2002=100) decreased 0.4% from April 2018 to 135.2 and increased 2.3% over May 2017. 

The CPI, excluding food and energy decreased 0.6 per cent from April 2018 to 125.9, and increased 1.4% over May 2017.

CANADA
In Canada May 2018, the consumer price index (2002=100) increased 0.1% from April 2018 to 133.4 and increased 2.2% over May 2017.

The CPI, excluding food and energy, increased 0.1% from April 2018 to 127.6, and increased 1.7% over May 2017.

Compared with May 2017, CPI-Common, CPI-Median, and CPI-Trim all rose 1.9%.

HALIFAX

In Halifax May 2018, the consumer price index (2002=100) decreased 0.4% from April 2018 to 133.9 and increased 2.1% over May 2017.

Statistics Canada Note: Since 2001, the Bank of Canada's main measure of core inflation has been "core" consumer price index (CPIX) inflation, which excludes eight of the most volatile components of the CPI and adjusts the remainder for the effect of changes in indirect taxes. Following a review of a wide selection of measures of core inflation in 2015, in the context of its most recent renewal of the inflation-control target, the Bank chose three preferred measures of core inflation: (i) a measure based on a trimmed mean (CPI-trim); (ii) a measure based on the weighted median (CPI-median); (iii) a measure based on the common component (CPI-common). For more information see The Daily.

Statistics Canada Cat. No. 62-001, CANSIM 326-0020 326-0023

EU AND EURO AREA CONSUMER PRICE INFLATION, MAY 2018

In May, inflation was 2.0 per cent in the European Union (up from 1.5 per cent in April) and 1.9 per cent in the Euro Area (up from 1.3 per cent in April). Inflation in both Canada and Nova Scotia also rose in the latest year-over-year results for April, Canada up 2.8 per cent and Nova Scotia up 2.2 per cent for the All-Items index.

Among member states, the fastest year-over-year inflation was reported in Romania, Estonia, Hungary and Lithuania.  The lowest inflation was reported in Ireland and Greece.

In May, the highest contribution to euro area inflation came from services, energy, and food, alcohol and tobacco, and non-energy industrial goods. 

Source: Eurostat