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, official data showed on Tuesday.

Market expectations for a pause in interest-rate cuts increase after the higher consumer-price report.

Canada's annual inflation rate rose 1.9% in January, up from 1.8% in December as lower prices helped by a sales tax reprieve were partly offset by higher cost of gasoline and natural gas, data showed on Tuesday.

The annual inflation rate in Canada inched higher to 1.9% in January from 1.8% in the previous month, in line with market expectations.  The annual core inflation rate in Canada, which excludes components such as food,