News

Canada’s economy has been weak but is showing signs of improvement. Growth is expected to pick up, and inflation is projected to ease to around 2%. Uncertainty remains elevated.

Governor Tiff Macklem discusses the Monetary Policy Report and the key issues involved in the Governing Council’s deliberations about the monetary policy decision.

Results from the Business Outlook Survey and the Business Leaders’ Pulse indicate that firms’ sentiment has deteriorated. Domestic sales outlooks have weakened amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty and elevated costs related to fuel, while export outlooks have improved because of stronger demand for commodities. Investment intentions remain solid, but fewer firms plan to add staff. More firms now expect their input and selling prices to rise, reflecting higher global oil prices. Firms’ inflation expectations are also higher than in recent quarters. Oil producers have revised their capital spending and production plans upward, citing expectations of sustained elevated oil prices.

Results of the second-quarter 2026 survey show that consumers’ near-term inflation expectations remain elevated amid ongoing trade tensions and rising concerns about oil and energy prices linked to the war in the Middle East. The CSCE indicator remains low as consumers still view the economic environment as challenging. High prices and economic uncertainty continue to weigh on household spending plans, particularly among households expecting the war to significantly raise inflation. At the same time, perceptions of the labour market improved modestly as fears of job loss eased, particularly in sectors highly sensitive to trade.

The Bank of Canada today published a report summarizing the feedback it received from stakeholders and the Canadian public during consultations on its monetary policy framework.