The annual rate of inflation accelerated sharply to 2.6 per cent in February as the federal government’s temporary tax break came to an end mid-month. That marks a sizeable jump from the 1.9 per cent in January and the 2.2 per cent economists had been expecting. Economists say the trade war with the U.S. to drive prices higher in the months to come, though Ottawa's move to strike the consumer carbon price as of April 1 will take some steam out of the inflation figures next month. (March 18, 2025)