Inflation Canada 1979
Average inflation: 9.1%
Inflation in 1979
Inflation is very high at 9.1%, far above the ECB target.
Peak and Trough
The highest inflation was in April at 9.8%. The lowest inflation was in August at 8.3%.
- Highest month
- April: 9.8%
- Lowest month
- August: 8.3%
- Difference
- 1.5 percentage points
- Months with data
- 12 of 12
Historical Context
Inflation is around the 5-year average of 8.9%.
- 5-year average
- 8.9%
- 10-year average
- 7.4%
- All-time high (1974)
- 11%
- All-time low (1961)
- 1%
Trend
Over the period 1977-1979, inflation shows an upward trend. Compared to 1978, inflation has risen by 0.1 percentage points.
- Change vs. previous year
- +0.1 percentage points
- Largest monthly swing
- August: -1.4 percentage points
ECB Target
Inflation is 7.1 percentage points above the ECB target of 2.0%. This means purchasing power is declining faster than intended.
Purchasing Power
At this high inflation rate, purchasing power rapidly decreases. This has a major impact on households, especially without adequate salary increases.
What you could buy for CA$100 this year will cost approximately CA$109.10 next year at this inflation rate.
Multi-year trend
Monthly figures 1979
Inflation by category
Inflation differs per product group. Click on a category for the historical trend.
Month overview
| Month | Inflation | Difference vs. 1978 |
|---|---|---|
| January | 8.5% | -0.5 |
| February | 9.0% | -0.3 |
| March | 9.2% | +0.4 |
| April | 9.8% | +1.3 |
| May | 9.4% | +0.7 |
| June | 9.0% | -0.3 |
| July | 8.4% | -1.0 |
| August | 8.3% | -1.4 |
| September | 9.7% | +1.2 |
| October | 9.0% | 0.0 |
| November | 9.5% | +0.6 |
| December | 9.8% | +1.2 |
| Average | 9.1% |
Data source
Data from OECD. Last updated: 17/12/2025.