愛污传媒

Skip to main content

Bank of Canada rate hikes: Economists respond to new inflation data

Share

With the latest inflation data showing no signs of a substantial cool-down, economists are forecasting the Bank of Canada will continue its reign of aggressive rate hikes, and some predict a "technical recession" during the first half of 2023.

Data released by Statistics Canada on Wednesday that the consumer price index (CPI) is up 6.9 per cent year-over-year in September, despite economists previously anticipating a mere 6.7 per cent increase.

In an interview with BNN Bloomberg on Tuesday, Jean-Francois Perrault, chief economist at Scotiabank, said 鈥渢here鈥檚 a limit to how much [the Canadian economy] can withstand.鈥

鈥淵ou鈥檝e got the pretty horrible situation in Europe. Obviously, China is going through a very significant slowdown 鈥 perhaps so significant that they decided yesterday not to publish economic data for a little while. And we got the U.S. where things are slowing and the Feds indicated that they want to raise interest rates quite a bit more and that will lead to a recession there.鈥

Perrault said that these economic pressure points make it increasingly more difficult for Canada to withstand recession fears, but he also pointed out that there is still a fair amount of resilience throughout various sectors of the economy.

鈥淵ou can think of it as the economy kind of taking a breather for a few quarters,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he Bank of Canada is trying to engineer a cooling of the economy. It鈥檚 trying to slow inflation. So this slowdown that鈥檚 occurring is consistent with that, and hopefully helpful from an inflation management perspective as we look to inflation over the next year and a half.鈥

Here's what other economists are saying about the recent inflation data and what is expected from the Bank of Canada as we approach 2023.

BANK OF MONTREAL

Bank of Montreal Chief Economist Douglas Porter said in a note to clients Wednesday that inflation did not ease as much as anticipated last month, 鈥渆ven as gasoline costs took a big step back.鈥

鈥淯nderlying inflation remains extremely persistent and sticky at above 5 per cent.鈥

He added that a weak Canadian dollar and a likely 75 basis-point hike from the U.S. Federal Reserve at its next meeting pave the way for a 75 basis-point hike.

TORONTO-DOMINION BANK

Leslie Preston, a senior economist and managing director at TD Bank, said in a Wednesday that increases in the policy rate are starting to impact the economy. Inflation data, she said, emphasizes the need for a hefty 50 basis-point hike next week in the BoC's overnight rate.

鈥淲e expect the bank is getting closer to a pause on rate hikes, once it reaches four per cent by the end of the year,鈥 Preston said.

THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA

Derek Holt, a vice-president and head of capital markets economics at Scotiabank, anticipates the Bank of Canada to increase its policy rate by another 75 points next week, as he said in a note to investors Wednesday. He also mentioned that he had been supporting a 75 basis-point hike before the release of CPI figures.

鈥淸Overnight index swap] pricing for next week鈥檚 BoC decision has moved from pre-data pricing around 60 bps to over 75 bps now as a three-quarters of a percentage point rate hike is now fully priced,鈥 Holt said.

CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE

Benjamin Tal, the deputy chief economist at CIBC, said in an email to BNN Bloomberg on Wednesday that he predicts a 75 basis-point hike from the central bank.

Karyne Charbonneau, an economist at CIBC, said in a note to investors Wednesday that the central bank continues to have 鈥渨ork to do鈥 in its fight to effectively combat inflation.

鈥淎s such, we now believe the Bank will need to go with a 75 bps hike next week rather than the 50 bps we previously anticipated. The Bank might then be left with a last 25 bps in December if growth numbers support it,鈥 Charbonneau noted.

With files from Daniel Johnson 

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

The president and CEO of New Brunswick-based Covered Bridge Potato Chips is taking an 'extended leave of absence' after being charged with domestic violence this past weekend.

A memorial is growing outside a Walmart in Halifax after a 19-year-old employee was found dead inside an oven in the store Saturday night.

A search has started at Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of two victims of a serial killer.

He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.

Canada's discount airline is suspending operations to and from Saskatoon.

A new report suggests that Canadians' exposure to a radioactive gas is increasing, putting millions of people at a higher risk of developing lung cancer.

Local Spotlight

He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.

A meteor lit up our region's sky last night 鈥 with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.

Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.

A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.

A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.

Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.

The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that 鈥 and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.

Stay Connected