I just happened to answer a question on the CPI in Canada in another forum: The CPI you see in the headlines is made of of various components (Shelter, Food, Transportation, etc), the proportions of which are determined by spending surveys:
As people change their buying habits the items that are tracked also change to reflect what consumers are spending. Here are the items in each category:
It should also be noted that the number reported in the headlines is the national average, while the prices can vary widely depending on your location. So in the report for February 2024, the national number was 2.8%, but Alberta had 4.2% while Manitoba had 0.9%:
StatCan has a "Personal Inflation Calculator" where you can enter your own numbers/budget and find a number that may be closer to what's happening around you:
