Canada CPI expected to rise 1.9% in October, paving the way for further BoC rate cuts

19 Nov 2024, 09:00 by FXStreet Team · FXStreet

The Canadian Consumer Price Index is seen ticking higher by 1.9% YoY in October.
The Bank of Canada has reduced its policy rate by 125 basis points so far this year.
The Canadian Dollar navigates multi-year lows against its American counterpart.

Statistics Canada is gearing up to release its latest inflation report for October, tracked by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), on Tuesday. Expectations point to a potential 1.9% rise in headline inflation compared to the same month last year.

Alongside this, the Bank of Canada’s (BoC) core CPI figures, which strip out more volatile items like food and energy, will also be published. In September, core CPI came in flat compared with the previous month but was up 1.6% year-over-year. The headline CPI for September showed a modest 1.6% increase over the past 12 months – the lowest since February 2021 – and actually declined by 0.4% from a month earlier.

Investors and analysts are watching these inflation numbers closely, as they could sway the Canadian Dollar (CAD), especially given the BoC’s current stance on interest rates. It’s worth noting that the BoC has already lowered its policy rate by 125 basis points since it started its easing cycle in May, bringing it down to 3.75%.

On the currency front, the Canadian Dollar has had a rough ride. This depreciation of the Canadian currency has pushed USD/CAD to levels not seen since May 2020, north of the 1.4100 barrier.

What can we expect from Canada’s inflation rate?

Consensus among market participants appears to favour an uptick in Canadian inflation in October, although the metric should remain below the BoC’s 2.0% target. In the unlikely case that there’s an unexpected and substantial jump in prices, the underlying trend of easing inflation should keep the central bank on track with its rate-cutting strategy.

In the wake of the clear consensus that ensued the BoC’s 50-basis-point rate cut on October 23, Governor Tiff Macklem acknowledged that inflation “has come down a little faster than expected.”

In addition, Macklem noted that headline inflation has seen a significant drop recently, attributing part of this decline to falling global Oil prices, especially in gasoline. However, he pointed out that the improvement isn’t just about volatile energy costs. He explained that core inflation – which strips out those more unpredictable factors – has also been easing gradually, much as the bank had anticipated. He added that, while shelter price inflation remains high, it has started to come down, boosting the bank's confidence that this trend will continue in the months ahead.

Previewing the data release, Assistant Chief Economist Nathan Janzen at Royal Bank of Canada noted: “We expect some upward seasonal price moves in categories like clothing and footwear as well as travel tours. Another component to watch for is property taxes and other special charges, as this component is released only in October. The BoC‘s preferred median and trim core measures (for a better gauge of where inflation is going rather than where it’s been) both likely ticked higher in October on a three-month rolling average.”

When is the Canada CPI data due, and how could it affect USD/CAD?

Canada's inflation report for October is set to be released on Tuesday at 13:30 GMT, but the Canadian Dollar's reaction is likely to depend on whether the data delivers any big surprises. If the figures come in line with expectations, it’s unlikely to sway the Bank of Canada’s current rate outlook.

In the meantime, USD/CAD has been navigating a strong upward trend since October, hitting multi-year tops just beyond the 1.4100 hurdle at the end of last week. This rise has mainly been fuelled by a robust rebound in the US Dollar (USD), almost exclusively on the back of the so-called “Trump trade," keeping risk-sensitive currencies like the Canadian Dollar under heavy pressure.

Pablo Piovano, Senior Analyst at FXStreet, suggests that under the current scenario of persistent gains in the Greenback and heightened volatility in crude Oil prices, further weakness in the Canadian Dollar should well remain on the cards in the near to medium terms.

“If the rally continues, the next resistance level for USD/CAD emerges at the weekly peak of 1.4265 (April 21, 2020), ahead of the highest level reached that year at 1.4667 (March 19),” Piovano adds

On the downside, there is an initial contention zone at the November low of 1.3823 (November 6), prior to the provisional support zone in the 1.3710-1.3700 band, where converge both interim 55-day and 100-day Simple Moving Averages (SMAs), all prior to the more significant 200-day SMA at 1.3663. If USD/CAD breaks below the latter, it could spark an extra bout of selling pressure to, initially, the September low at 1.3418 (September 25), Piovano says.

Economic Indicator

Consumer Price Index (YoY)

The Consumer Price Index (CPI), released by Statistics Canada on a monthly basis, represents changes in prices for Canadian consumers by comparing the cost of a fixed basket of goods and services. The YoY reading compares prices in the reference month to the same month a year earlier. Generally, a high reading is seen as bullish for the Canadian Dollar (CAD), while a low reading is seen as bearish.

Interest rates FAQs

What are interest rates?

Interest rates are charged by financial institutions on loans to borrowers and are paid as interest to savers and depositors. They are influenced by base lending rates, which are set by central banks in response to changes in the economy. Central banks normally have a mandate to ensure price stability, which in most cases means targeting a core inflation rate of around 2%. If inflation falls below target the central bank may cut base lending rates, with a view to stimulating lending and boosting the economy. If inflation rises substantially above 2% it normally results in the central bank raising base lending rates in an attempt to lower inflation.

How do interest rates impact currencies?

Higher interest rates generally help strengthen a country’s currency as they make it a more attractive place for global investors to park their money.

How do interest rates influence the price of Gold?

Higher interest rates overall weigh on the price of Gold because they increase the opportunity cost of holding Gold instead of investing in an interest-bearing asset or placing cash in the bank. If interest rates are high that usually pushes up the price of the US Dollar (USD), and since Gold is priced in Dollars, this has the effect of lowering the price of Gold.

What is the Fed Funds rate?

The Fed funds rate is the overnight rate at which US banks lend to each other. It is the oft-quoted headline rate set by the Federal Reserve at its FOMC meetings. It is set as a range, for example 4.75%-5.00%, though the upper limit (in that case 5.00%) is the quoted figure. Market expectations for future Fed funds rate are tracked by the CME FedWatch tool, which shapes how many financial markets behave in anticipation of future Federal Reserve monetary policy decisions.

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