Canadian inflation would have accelerated further in January were it not for Ottawa’s tax holiday, putting the Bank of Canada in an awkward position when it comes to its next interest rate decision ,

Canada's annual inflation rate edged up to 1.9% in January, as higher energy prices offset the effect of the GST/HST "holiday" on food and certain other items, Statistics Canada said on Tuesday.

Economists are more confident the Bank of Canada might pause its interest rate cuts next month — tariffs notwithstanding — as Canada's annual inflation rate ticked back up in January.

By Promit Mukherjee OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's annual inflation rate inched up to 1.9% in January from the previous month as higher gasoline and natural gas costs reduced the impact of a sales tax reprieve on broader consumer prices,