NNSL (Jun 09/99) - According to the latest figures from Statistics Canada, the cost of living in Yellowknife rose at a slower rate than the rest of the country.

For April, the Yellowknife all-items consumer price index rose .6 per cent compared to the same month a year earlier.

By comparison, the annual price increase for Canada was 1.7 per cent.

The annual price increase for Edmonton and Whitehorse were 1.6 per cent and .8 per cent, respectively.

The higher Yellowknife consumer price index was attributed to a rise in costs for fuel, men's clothing, oral-hygiene products and accommodations.

Fresh fruit, chicken, beef and cereals were also more expensive.

Offsetting the increases were price declines for fish, vegetables, soup, pet food and supplies, canned vegetables and fresh and frozen pork.