Canada’s consumer price inflation picked up pace in March 2026, with the month‑over‑month Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising 0.9%, up from a 0.5% increase in February 2026. The fresh data, updated on 20 April 2026, point to a notable acceleration in short‑term price pressures compared with the previous month.
On a month-over-month basis, the “actual” March reading reflects how prices changed versus February, while the “previous” figure captures the change in February relative to January. The jump from 0.5% to 0.9% suggests that inflationary momentum strengthened into early spring, a development that markets and policymakers will be monitoring closely for potential implications on interest rate expectations and broader economic conditions in Canada.
