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Canada’s Inflation Climbs to 2.4% as Gas Prices Surge to Record High

  Canada’s inflation rate accelerated to 2.4% in March , up from 1.8% in February, as the Iran war triggered the largest monthly gasoline price increase on record . Statistics Canada reported that gas prices surged 21.2% month‑over‑month , a supply‑shock response to Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and broader Middle East instability.  Energy costs were the dominant driver of March inflation, with overall energy prices rising 3.9% year‑over‑year after a sharp decline the month before. Excluding gasoline, inflation would have eased to 2.2% , highlighting how concentrated the price shock was.  Food inflation offered mixed relief: grocery prices rose 4.4% , while fresh vegetables jumped 7.8% due to difficult growing conditions. Restaurant inflation cooled sharply as last year’s tax‑holiday distortions fell out of the annual comparison.  Economists note that while headline inflation spiked, core measures remained relatively tame , giving the Bank of Canada ro...
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Bank of Canada Poised for Another Interest Rate Cut

 

The Bank of Canada (BoC) is widely expected to announce another interest rate cut today, with forecasters leaning towards a half-percentage point reduction. This move would bring the BoC's key rate down to 3.25%, marking the fifth consecutive rate cut since June.

The decision follows the November labour force survey, which showed the unemployment rate rising to 6.8%. The central bank had previously lowered its benchmark interest rate by half a percentage point in October in response to inflation returning to its two percent target.

Governor Tiff Macklem has emphasized that the decision will be data-dependent, and the recent economic indicators have solidified expectations for another significant cut.

The BoC's efforts to manage inflation and support economic growth have been closely watched by market analysts and economists, who are keen to see how these measures will impact the Canadian economy moving forward.




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