The Financial Post reports in its Tuesday, March 17, edition that some economists warn that Canadian inflation could rise to 3 per cent or more if the war in Iran persists. The Post's Gigi Suhanic writes that in February, inflation was at 1.8 per cent year over year, slightly below the expected 1.9 per cent and down from 2.3 per cent in January, according to Statistics Canada. CIBC economist Katherine Judge says, "The 'before' picture of Canadian inflation ahead of the oil price shock should give the Bank of Canada some comfort as it looked tame overall." The core inflation measures most important to the BOC both decelerated to 2.3 per cent year over year from 2.5 per cent and 2.4 per cent. Ms. Judge says, "While the before picture looked good, the after picture of inflation following the start of the war could show headline inflation accelerating to roughly 3 per cent year over year in the coming months." Rosenberg Research president David Rosenberg says any inflation from the war in Iran will further challenge a weak labour market. BMO senior economist Douglas Porter says, "With the conflict in Iran beginning on the last day of February, this report has a distinct antebellum tinge."