Statistics Canada says the annual pace of inflation topped five per cent for the first time in more than 30 years.

The agency says the annual inflation rate rose to 5.1 per cent in January compared with a gain of 4.8 per cent in December.

Driving much of the increase in January were prices for housing, gasoline and groceries.

Gasoline prices were up 31.7 per cent last month, compared with January 2021.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the rate was 4.0, a slight decrease from 4.2 the month previous.

PEI had the highest inflation in the country at 7.1 per cent.

As for cities, the rate in the St. John’s area remained stable at 3.5 per cent.