Alberta's inflation rate dropped to 1.9 per cent in December but many Calgarians are seeing their costs for staples increase.
Statistics Canada figures show Alberta's inflation dropped half a percentage point last month and our province is now near the middle of the pack across the country. Calgary's inflation rate is 2.4 per cent which puts it near the top of the list of major municipalities.
The national average now stands at 1.2 per cent.
Falling energy prices, including the cost of gasoline, are contributing to the drop.
But groceries and mortgage costs went up despite falling interest rates.
A weak Canadian dollar is driving up prices for fresh fruit and vegetables, the majority of which come from the United States.
The Canadian dollar has fallen nearly 20 per cent against the U-S dollar since last year.
Here are the latest interest rates for Calgary and Alberta compared to other regions in Canada.
| Province | Inflation rate |
|---|---|
| New Brunswick | -0.6 |
| Nova Scotia | -0.2 |
| Prince Edward Island | 0.0 |
| Quebec | 0.5 |
| British Columbia | 1.2 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 1.2 |
| Ontario | 1.5 |
| Alberta | 1.9 |
| Manitoba | 1.9 |
| Saskatchewan | 2.6 |
| Whitehorse, Yukon | 3.0 |
| Yellowknife, N.W.T. | 3.1 |
| Iqaluit, Nunavut | 3.4 |
| City | Inflation rate |
|---|---|
| Regina | 3.0 |
| Saskatoon | 2.5 |
| Calgary | 2.4 |
| Winnipeg | 2.0 |
| Edmonton | 2.0 |
| Thunder Bay, Ont. | 1.9 |
| Toronto | 1.7 |
| Ottawa | 1.7 |
| St. John's, N.L. | 1.6 |
| Vancouver | 1.3 |
| Victoria | 1.2 |
| Montreal | 0.7 |
| Quebec | 0.5 |
| Charlottetown-Summerside | 0.2 |
| Saint John, N.B. | -0.7 |
| Halifax | -0.1 |
