The Bank of Canada yesterday announced that it is keeping its target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 1/4 per cent and the deposit rate is 3/4 per cent, as well, which should mean that the Big Banks should not be changing their rates (but then again, they are free to do as they please).
Big Pile of Loose Canadian Money
This means that loose money rates at the Banks should continue on for a while. The Bank’s commentaries were telling as usual:
Inflation has evolved broadly in line with the outlook in the October MPR. Both total and core inflation are expected to increase and return to 2 per cent over the course of the next 12 months as the economy gradually absorbs the current small degree of slack, the growth of labour compensation remains moderate and inflation expectations stay well-anchored.
That is a sensible opinion, from my point of view. They do go on to say however:
Reflecting all of these factors, the Bank has decided to maintain the target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent. Over time, some modest withdrawal of monetary policy stimulus will likely be required, consistent with achieving the 2 per cent inflation target. The timing and degree of any such withdrawal will be weighed carefully against global and domestic developments, including the evolution of imbalances in the household sector.
In other words, we will be raising rates, some time, but we are not really sure when, but we will be watching closely to see if any kind of economic recovery heats the economy up.
That’s not surprising at all and when they do I hope everyone is prepared. You are right they can do as they please.