Saskatchewan’s annual inflation rate up 0.6% in December

The annual inflation rate in Saskatchewan rose 0.6 per cent in December, according to numbers released Friday by Statistics Canada.

The increase was partially due to higher gas prices, which were up 5.1 per cent on a year-over-year basis.

READ MORE: Bank of Canada, Ottawa renew 2% inflation target agreement

Overall, prices were up in five of the eight major categories tracked by the federal agencies.

Transportation, which includes gasoline, was up 2.9 per cent, while alcohol and tobacco were up 2.1 per cent.

Prices were down in two categories – food at -2.3 per cent and housing operations at -0.6 per cent – while clothing prices were unchanged.

READ MORE: High fuel prices help push Canada’s inflation rate to 1.5% in December

Nationally, the consumer price index rose 1.5 per cent, slightly lower than the 1.7 per cent increase economists had expected.