The data agency said gasoline was the biggest single contributor to the overall rate rise, as pump prices rose 54.6 percent compared to the same month a year ago. If gasoline is taken out, inflation will be 6.5%. Although the 8.1 percent rate is the fastest annual increase since 1983, economists had expected the rate to be even higher, with a consensus of those polled by Bloomberg predicting a rate of 8.4 percent. “Slightly weaker than expected inflation readings will be good news for central bankers trying to control price pressures,” said economist Royce Mendes with Desjardins.
