CBC

Fri Oct 20, 6:46 am

Inflation climbs

The national inflation rate took a two point jump in September, to 2.7 percent, two-tenths of a percent higher than the rate in August. The main culprit, accounting for half the increase was higher energy prices. Higher gasoline prices jacked up the price to fill your car by 17.7 percent over the previous month, marking the 14th straight month it has cost more to fuel up. Natural gas prices also took a huge jump, rising almost 25 percent and fuel oil was up a whopping 44 and-a-half percent. Restaurant meals continue to cost more as do mortgage rates. On the positive side, cars, computers and child care expenses all fell.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), October 20, 2000