Canada’s annual inflation rate remained at 2.2% in March as higher gasoline prices were offset by lower prices for clothing and computers, Statistics Canada said today.

The March reading on inflation was unchanged from February.

The core rate of inflation, which excludes such volatile items as energy, tobacco, and fruits and vegetables, also held steady at 1.7%, still well within the Bank of Canada’s inflation target of 1 to 3%.

On a month-over-month basis, the consumer price index rose 0.5%, again due to rising gas prices.

StatsCan said prices at the pump were an average 7.4% higher than a year ago, with much of that increase coming in the past month. The government agency said gas prices jumped 5.2% between February and March.

In addition to higher costs to fill up their gas tanks, consumers also paid more for their cars and trucks. The costs of buying and leasing vehicles rose 3.5% in March compared to one year ago, StatsCan said.