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BoC Holds at 2.25%: What the Rate Decision (and Rising Gas Prices) Mean for Your Wallet

  Thursday, July 16, 2026 Sixth consecutive hold. A weaker 2026 growth forecast. And inflation that's running hotter because of gas prices, not the usual suspects. Here's what actually changes for you. The Bank of Canada held its overnight rate at 2.25% on Wednesday, exactly as markets expected. No surprise there. What's more interesting is why it held, and what it revealed about where the economy — and your bills — are headed next. This was the sixth straight hold since the Bank finished its easing cycle back in October. But buried in the accompanying Monetary Policy Report were a few numbers worth your attention. The Numbers That Matter Overnight Rate 2.25% (unchanged) Prime Rate (typical) 4.45% 2026 GDP Growth Forecast 0.7% (cut from 1.2%) 2027 / 2028 Growth Forecast 1.8% each year May CPI Inflation 3.2% Inflation Excluding Gasoline 2.2% Unemployment Rate (June) 6.5% Next Rate Decision September 2, 2026 Why Gas Prices Are Driving This Decision Here's the twist in th...

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TSX Slumps as Central Banks Hold Steady

 

Canada’s Main Index Suffers Sharpest Drop Since May

The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index fell 169.92 points, or 0.6%, to close at 27,369.96 on Wednesday, marking its steepest single-day decline in ten weeks. The drop followed a record high the previous day, underscoring investor unease as both the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Canada opted to keep interest rates unchanged.

The materials sector led the retreat, sliding 2.1% amid tumbling copper and gold prices. Financials and technology also posted losses, down 0.6% and 0.5% respectively, as eight of the index’s ten major sectors ended in the red.

Market sentiment soured after the Fed’s decision to hold rates steady offered no clear timeline for future cuts, disappointing investors hoping for dovish signals. Meanwhile, the Bank of Canada maintained its benchmark rate at 2.75% for the third consecutive meeting, citing reduced risks of a global trade war.

Among individual stocks, Capital Power Corp saw a sharp 6.9% decline after reporting a quarterly loss.

The TSX’s retreat reflects broader concerns over economic momentum and central bank caution, leaving investors to navigate a landscape of uncertainty and subdued optimism.

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