{"id":3135,"date":"2023-08-14T17:46:36","date_gmt":"2023-08-14T21:46:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianlending.ca\/brokers\/?p=3135"},"modified":"2023-08-14T17:46:36","modified_gmt":"2023-08-14T21:46:36","slug":"is-a-slowing-global-economy-enough-to-cool-core-inflation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.canadianlending.ca\/brokers\/is-a-slowing-global-economy-enough-to-cool-core-inflation\/","title":{"rendered":"Is a Slowing Global Economy Enough to Cool Core Inflation?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Last week saw some market movements – the TSX rose a half of a percent on higher oil prices, and yields were up a few of basis points across the yield curve – but it was a quiet week otherwise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Statistics Canada\u2019s update on <\/span>international trade<\/span><\/a> and investment activity <\/span>was the only data release for the week. June numbers show imports remained strong, while exports weakened, reflecting a slowing global market. While net exports contributed to growth in the first half of the year, we expect that trade will be a net drag on growth in the balance of the year with the trade deficit at levels not seen since late 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n On the cost of living front, inflation has moved below the Bank of Canada\u2019s upper band of 3%, but with core inflation remaining sticky, the journey to 2% will be long. Indeed, in its July Monetary Policy Report, the Bank pushed its expected timeframe of achieving its 2% target from the end of 2024 to mid-2025. Headline inflation is likely to trend up with higher food and energy prices. (Headline inflation refers to all goods, services and commodities in the economy; core inflation refers to all goods, services and commodities excluding food and fuel.)<\/span><\/p>\n Incoming data has been supportive of the Bank remaining on the sidelines, and we believe July\u2019s quarter-point hike was the last of this tightening cycle. Most economists expect the Bank to keep the overnight rate unchanged until the second quarter of 2024, so borrowers with variable rate mortgages can expect another nine to twelve months before any relief is in sight. Given OSFI is focused on this segment of the market, it\u2019s unlikely that banks will move their lending margins. Fixed rates will adjust sooner \u2013 likely by the fourth quarter – but adjustments will be modest. We\u2019re not likely to see 5-year bond yields below 3% until Q3 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n