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5 Things to Know Today — June 11, 2026

  The Bank of Canada confirmed its fifth straight rate hold yesterday, oil slipped back toward $89 a barrel after fresh U.S. strikes on Iran, and Canada Post workers officially have a new contract. Here is what every Canadian needs to know heading into Wednesday. 1 of 5 — Interest Rates Bank of Canada holds at 2.25% — for the fifth time in a row The Bank of Canada kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.25% on June 10, marking five consecutive holds since late 2025. Governor Tiff Macklem said the central bank is trying to balance two opposing forces: inflation pushed higher by elevated energy costs from the Middle East war, and an economy that has barely grown in recent quarters. "Economic weakness combined with rising inflation is a dilemma for monetary policy," Macklem told reporters, adding that holding the rate "balances those risks" for now. What it means for you: Variable-rate mortgage holders and borrowers with lines of credit get another month of pa...
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Canada’s economy shrinks in Q3 amid export and consumer woes

 


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Canada’s economy shrinks in Q3 amid export and spending woes

Canada’s economy contracted by 1.1 per cent on an annualized basis in the third quarter of 2023, according to Statistics Canada. This was a much weaker result than expected by analysts and the Bank of Canada, which had forecast a slight growth of 0.1 per cent and 0.8 per cent, respectively.

The main factors behind the economic decline were a drop in exports, a slump in business investment, and a stagnation in consumer spending. Exports fell by 5.1 per cent, reflecting lower shipments of energy products, motor vehicles, and aircraft. Business investment decreased by 10.1 per cent, as firms reduced their spending on machinery and equipment, intellectual property, and non-residential structures. Consumer spending was flat, as households saved more of their income amid rising interest rates.

The only bright spots in the third quarter were government spending, which increased by 7.3 per cent, boosted by a one-time GST/HST credit payment, and residential housing investment, which rose by 8.3 per cent, driven by a surge in new construction.

The Canadian economy also performed poorly compared with the U.S. economy, which grew by 5.2 per cent in the same period. Canada has been more sensitive to the impact of higher interest rates, which have been raised by the Bank of Canada to 5 per cent from 0.25 per cent since early 2022. The central bank has recently signalled that it may pause or reverse its tightening cycle, as inflation has eased and economic growth has faltered.

Some economists believe that the third quarter contraction was a temporary setback and that the economy will rebound in the fourth quarter and beyond. Statistics Canada estimated that GDP grew by 0.2 per cent in October, indicating a modest recovery. However, others warn that the economy may face more headwinds in the new year, such as the ongoing supply chain disruptions, the spread of the new COVID-19 variant, and the uncertainty over the federal fiscal policy.

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