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Canada's Inflation Jumps to 2.4% in March — And Your Grocery and Gas Bills Show It

Canada's annual inflation rate climbed to 2.4% in March 2026 , up sharply from 1.8% in February, according to Statistics Canada data released Monday. The jump was driven almost entirely by soaring energy prices tied to the U.S.-Iran conflict and its disruption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz — and Canadians felt it directly at the gas pump and grocery store. Headline CPI (March) 2.4% ▲ Up from 1.8% in February Gasoline (monthly) +21.2% Largest monthly jump on record Grocery prices (year/year) +4.4% Up from 4.1% in February Core CPI (ex-gas) 2.2% Milder than expected Gas was the main culprit Gasoline prices surged a record 21.2% month over month in March — the largest single-month jump ever recorded in Canada — as the U.S.-Iran conflict choked off roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz. On a year-...

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IKEA lowers prices in several countries to attract more customers

 

The price cuts, which will take effect from February 1, are part of IKEA’s strategy to boost sales volumes and market share in the wake of the pandemic, which disrupted global supply chains and increased shipping costs. IKEA said it aims to bring prices back to pre-pandemic levels by the end of next year.

Some of the products that will see lower prices are KALLAX storage cubes, BILLY bookcases, and MALM bed frames. IKEA is already selling more of these products in some countries, according to Tolga Oncu, Ingka Retail Manager at Ingka Group, the biggest owner of IKEA stores.

“When you lower the price you also need to see a volume increase,” Oncu said. “Every country is sitting and looking at where are the opportunities for us to, by lowering the prices, sell more pieces.”

IKEA is not the only retailer that is adjusting its prices in response to changing market conditions. Other companies, such as Walmart and Target, have also lowered or raised prices on certain items to cope with inflation and supply chain issues.

IKEA, which operates in 52 markets, said it has invested more than 1 billion euros ($1.08 billion) in price reductions across its markets from September to November. The company also said it is not expecting any major impact from the recent disruptions in the Red Sea, which have affected global freight movements.

IKEA is owned by a separate company, Inter IKEA, which manufactures all IKEA products. Ingka Group is the main global franchisee of IKEA. 

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