Inflation rose to 1.9% in January

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Canada's consumer price index rose to 1.9 per cent in January, as higher energy prices weighing on overall inflation were partly offset by the federal government's tax holiday, Statistics Canada said on Feb 18.

January marked the first full month that the GST holiday was in effect — temporarily lowering the price of products to which the tax is usually applied, including restaurant meals, alcohol bought in stores, plus toys, some games and hobby supplies.

Meanwhile, energy prices rose 5.3 per cent on a yearly basis in January, a sizable jump from the month before.