Articles

More Good News On The Canadian Inflation Front

Inflation in Canada decelerated once again in July to its slowest pace in three years, assuring the central bank will cut rates for the third consecutive meeting on September 4. The US is also widely expected to begin easing monetary policy at its September confab. 

The annual inflation rate in Canada fell to 2.5% in July from 2.7% in June, matching market expectations. The deceleration in headline inflation was broad-based, stemming from lower prices for travel tours, passenger vehicles and electricity. This confirmed the Bank of Canada’s expectation that inflation would fall to 2.5% in the second half of this year. 

The CPI rose 0.4% in July after falling 0.1% in June. Gasoline prices increased month over month in July (+2.4%), putting upward pressure on the monthly CPI figure. The CPI rose 0.3% in July on a seasonally adjusted monthly basis.

The Bank of Canada’s preferred measures of core inflation, the trim and median core rates, exclude the more volatile price movements to assess the level of underlying inflation. The CPI trimmed edged down to 2.7% last month from 2.9% in June. The CPI median fell two ticks to 2.4%. 

The central bank’s two core inflation measures decreased, averaging a 2.55% yearly pace, from a downwardly revised 2.7% a month earlier. The third chart below shows the 3- and 6-month moving averages for the average of median and trim CPI measured as an annualized percentage change. The 3- and 6-month moving averages fell in July, with the 6-month figure just above the central bank’s target of 2%.

Bottom Line

Today’s inflation reading is good news for the Bank of Canada, giving them leeway to cut interest rates next week. July marks the seventh consecutive month that the headline yearly inflation rate has been within the BoC’s target range, bringing the annual pace of price pressures back to its weakest levels since 2021. 

Today’s inflation data will give the central bank confidence that the May rise in inflation was temporary. Annual inflation will reach the Bank’s 2% target by some time next year. This opens the way for the Bank to cut the overnight rate on September 4 by 25 bps to 4.25%. 

In July, mortgage interest costs and rent remained the most significant contributors to the annual inflation rate change. Mortgage interest costs were up 21% in July compared with 22.3% in June, while rents rose 8.5% compared with 8.8%. Excluding shelter costs, the consumer price index rose 1.2% from a year ago versus 1.3% in June.

Labour markets have eased since the Bank’s last decision date. Canada shed 2,800 jobs in July, and the unemployment rate was steady at 6.4%, its highest level in over two years. Bank officials have expressed their concern that a further decline in the job market may delay a recovery in household spending, putting downward pressure on growth.