Monetary Policy Report

October 2025

Available as: PDF

Overview

The Canadian economy is adjusting to steep US tariffs on several industries and coping with elevated uncertainty. Tariffs have led to a fall in the demand for Canadian goods, affecting the broader economy. The reconfiguration of global trade and domestic production is also leading to higher costs. Total inflation has been around 2%, while underlying inflation has continued to be about 2½%.

Current conditions

Canadian economic growth has slowed, reflecting the disruptive effects of US tariffs and a decline in population growth. Exports and business investment have slumped. After being close to 2% for several months, CPI inflation was 2.4% in September.

Tariff and other assumptions

Many countries have signed new trade agreements with the United States. US tariffs continue to be in flux, and the future of trade in North America remains uncertain.

Outlook

The ongoing trade conflict is fundamentally reshaping Canada’s economy and will have a lasting negative impact on economic activity. At the same time, the reconfiguration of global trade and domestic production is putting upward pressure on costs. Reflecting these two competing forces, inflation remains near the 2% target over the projection horizon.

Global economy

Global growth has been resilient. But the historic rise in US tariffs is reshaping global trade, weighing on prospects for global growth and pushing up inflation in the United States.

Projections

Economic growth in Canada is projected to strengthen from around 0.75% in the second half of 2025, with annual growth averaging 1.4% over 2026 and 2027. Inflation is expected to remain around 2% over the projection horizon.

Risks

Risks related to Canada’s trade relationship with the United States remain elevated. The outlook could also be affected by risks that are not directly related to tariffs.

In focus

Assessing underlying inflation

The goal of monetary policy is to keep total inflation close to the 2% target. But inflation can be volatile, and it takes time for changes to interest rates to filter through the economy. This is why, when setting policy, it is important to distinguish between temporary movements in inflation and lasting ones.

Shifts in cost pressures

Cost pressures are expected to ease. But businesses continue to face high input costs due to US tariffs and the broader reconfiguration of global trade.

The Monetary Policy Report is a product of the Governing Council of the Bank of Canada: Tiff Macklem, Carolyn Rogers, Toni Gravelle, Sharon Kozicki, Nicolas Vincent, Rhys Mendes and Michelle Alexopoulos.

In brief: Monetary Policy Report


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ISSN 1490-1234 (Online)