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BCREA ECONOMICS NOW: Bank of Canada Interest Rate Decision - December 7, 2016


Blog by Polly Reitze | December 7th, 2016


The Bank of Canada announced this morning that it is holding the target for its overnight rate at 0.5 per cent. In the press release accompanying the interest rate decision, the Bank noted that uncertainty in the global economy is undiminished in recent months while Canadian economic growth is evolving as anticipated. On inflation, the Bank cited that although CPI and core inflation have picked up, both measures remain below the Bank's 2 per cent target.

With long-term interest rates jolted upward by the US election, the Bank of Canada is likely content to keep its overnight rate on hold at 0.5 per cent over the next year. That said, the stark unpredictability of the incoming Trump administration on everything from trade to taxes to financial markets means that risk in the economy is tilted to the downside. Therefore, there remains the potential for a rate-cut by the Bank of Canada should economic conditions and the outlook for inflation deteriorate.

For more information, please contact:

Cameron Muir Brendon Ogmundson
Chief Economist Economist
Direct: 604.742.2780 Direct: 604.742.2796
Mobile: 778.229.1884 Mobile: 604.505.6793
Email: cmuir@bcrea.bc.ca Email: bogmundson@bcrea.bc.ca

The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) is the professional association for more than 20,000 REALTORS® in BC, focusing on provincial issues that impact real estate. Working with the province’s 11 real estate boards, BCREA provides continuing professional education, advocacy, economic research and standard forms to help REALTORS® provide value for their clients.

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