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Inflation holds at 3% in August as rent, travel prices rise: StatCan

StatsCan says the annual rate of inflation remains at 3%, influenced by rising gas prices.
9/14/2026
gas pump
Image: Shutterstock
gas pump
Image: Shutterstock

Statistics Canada says the annual rate of inflation was unchanged at 3% in August as a slowdown in rising gas prices was offset by higher rent and travel tour costs.

The agency says gasoline costs continued to increase in August but at a slower pace, with prices up 22.8% compared with 25.7% a month earlier, as the conflict in the Middle East continued to weigh on prices.

Excluding gasoline, consumer prices rose 2.4% last month.

READ: Statistics Canada reports retail sales up 0.6% in June at $74.3B

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StatCan says grocery prices increased at a slower pace than overall inflation for the first time in more than two years, with prices rising 2.8% year-over-year.

But the agency says consumers paid more for travel because of a rise in fuel surcharges and as airlines adjusted to the sharp decline in Canadian travel to the United States in 2025.

It says rent prices increased 2.8% year-over-year in August, up from 2.5% in July.

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