MNI: 5 Things We Learned From Canadian CPI Data>

By Yali N'Diaye

     OTTAWA (MNI) - The following are the key points from the December 

data on the Canadian Consumer Price Index released Friday by Statistics 

Canada: 

     - Headline unadjusted CPI fell 0.4% on the month, as expected, with 

four components down out of eight, including a 3.3% drop in gasoline. On 

an seasonally adjusted basis, CPI rose 0.2%. 

     - On a 12-month basis, all-item CPI rose 1.9% after a 2.1% gain in 

November, also as expected. Excluding food and energy, CPI rose 1.7%. 

     - Seven of eight categories posted gains year-over-year, led by 

transportation, which rose 4.9% on the back of a 12.2% increase in 

gasoline prices. 

     - The range of three BOC's preferred measures of underlying 

inflation edged up to 1.6%-1.9% from 1.5%-1.9%, with both CPI-common and 

CPI-trim accelerating, consistent of diminishing economic slack. 

     - For the fourth quarter, total inflation averaged 1.8% after 1.4% 

in the third quarter, as projected by the Bank of Canada. 

--MNI Ottawa Bureau; email: yali.ndiaye@marketnews.com 

[TOPICS: M$C$$$,MACDS$]