Inflation in BC a little more modest for September as Canada's annual inflation rate reaches 4.4%

Statistics Canada says the cost of living just keeps climbing, with the annual inflation rate reaching 4.4 per cent in September, up three-tenths of a point from its August setting.

Economists say the 4.4 per cent jump since September of last year has pushed inflation to its highest level since February 2003, with soaring gas prices and a rebound from last year's pandemic lows blamed for a hefty chunk of the increase.

Year-over-year inflation in BC was a little more modest as Stats Can says the September rate in the province didn't budge from its 3.5 per cent setting.

Prices in Vancouver edged up to 3.6 per cent from the August rate of 3.3 while inflation in Victoria dipped sharply, falling to 2.4 per cent last month, down eight basis points since August.