Canada's annual inflation rate up 2.3%

Canada’s annual inflation rate up 2.3%

Canada's annual inflation rate rose from 2.1% in February 2005 to 2.3% in March 2005, said Statistics Canada. An 11.2% increase in gasoline prices played a large part in the annual inflation increase. Meanwhile, the Bank of Canada disclosed that core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, rose 1.9% in March. Canada's consumer price index also rose 0.6% month on month in March due to higher prices for gasoline and fresh vegetables.