(Updates prices, sectors) April 13 (Reuters) - Canada’s main stock index opened higher on Tuesday as oil prices rose following strong China imports data, while consumer prices in the United States spiked, signaling a faster economic growth. U.S. consumer prices increased by the most in more than 8-1/2 years in March and underlying inflation picked up as more parts of the economy reopened, thanks to increased vaccinations and massive fiscal stimulus. * At 9:36 a.m. ET (1336 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index was up 26.83 points, or 0.14%, at 19,228.11. * Air Canada, struggling with a collapse in traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reached a deal on Monday on a long-awaited aid package with the federal government that would allow it to access up to C$5.9 billion ($4.69 billion) in funds. * The energy sector was up 0.5% as of 9:45 a.m. ET, as both U.S. crude and Brent crude prices rose 1% a barrel. * The financials sector slipped 0.4%. The industrials sector fell 0.5%. * The materials sector, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, added 1.4% as gold futures rose 0.6% to $1,741.7 an ounce. * On the TSX, 104 issues advanced, while 121 issues declined in a 1.16-to-1 ratio favoring decliners, with 14.91 million shares traded. * The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Endeavour Silver Corp, which jumped 5.4% and Sunopta Inc , which rose 4.4%. * OrganiGram Holdings fell 6.6%, the most on the TSX, while the second biggest decliner was GFL Environmental , down 5.1%. * The most heavily traded shares by volume were Toronto Dominion Bank, Sabina Gold & Silver Corp and Air Canada. * The TSX posted eight new 52-week highs and no new low. * Across Canadian issues, there were 69 new 52-week highs and five new lows, with total volume of 26.82 million shares. (Reporting by Shashank Nayar in Bengaluru; Editing by Vinay Dwivedi)