Canada’s inflation rate last month was the slowest since October 2013, falling below the central bank’s target band on a drop in energy costs. The consumer price index rose 0.8 percent in April from a year ago after March’s 1.2 percent pace, Statistics Canada said Friday from Ottawa. The core rate, which excludes eight volatile products, increased 2.3 percent. That measure accelerated at a 2.4 percent pace in March, the fastest since 2008. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg forecast the total rate would rise 1 percent and core by 2.4 percent. Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz said in a May 19 speech it may take ... (full story)