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Taken together, responses to the spring survey indicate that, following a recent slowing in economic activity, firms expect business conditions to remain challenging over the next 12 months.

The Bank of Canada today announced that it is lowering its target for the overnight rate by one-half of a percentage point to 1/2 per cent.

While transparency is critical to well-functioning capital markets and effective monetary policy, forward policy guidance is best used sparingly by central banks  in normal times, Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney said today. In a speech to the Toronto CFA Society, the Governor discussed where policy guidance can be most effective and when it may […]

This morning we released our eighth Monetary Policy Report. The period since our last report has certainly been an eventful one from a monetary policy perspective. During the past six months, global economic uncertainties intensified, particularly following Russia's decision in August to declare a debt moratorium. Many emerging market countries were faced with large capital […]

This article focuses on the role that loans backed by housing collateral play in amplifying housing booms and, more generally, procyclicality in the housing market. The author uses a model developed to include borrower and lender households, as well as a housing market, to examine the impact that altering the loan-to-value ratio (either permanently or countercyclically) might have on the volatility of house prices and mortgage debt.

The year that just passed posed many challenges for all Canadians. The slowdown in the global economy became more pronounced as the year went on, and this affected households, businesses, and governments alike. The tragedy of 11 September compounded the economic difficulties and issues facing us all. Through this period of rapidly changing circumstances, the Bank met its responsibilities by responding quickly and vigorously to events in order to underpin confidence and support the economy.

Press releases announcing and explaining monetary policy decisions play a critical role in the communication strategy of central banks. Because of their market-moving potential, it is particularly important how they are drafted. Often, central banks start from the previous statement and update the earlier text with only small changes.

The Bank of Canada today announced that it is lowering its target for the overnight rate by one-quarter of one percentage point to 2 3/4 per cent.

Firms anticipate stronger demand as pandemic conditions improve, according to results from the Business Outlook Survey in the third quarter of 2021. However, many businesses face supply constraints that will limit their sales and put upward pressure on their costs. Together, these demand pressures and supply challenges are driving widespread plans to invest, hire staff and increase prices.

External Deputy Governor Nicolas Vincent discusses three trends signaling weakness in Canada’s labour market, exploring whether they reflect temporary factors or deeper structural change.