Canada: Slowing contraction

The sharp contraction that began in the last quarter of 2008 intensified in the first quarter of 2009, led by collapsing exports, fixed investment and stock building. The pace of contraction appears to be slowing, but recessionary conditions are expected to linger through the third quarter, with only a slow recovery thereafter.

Unemployment is projected to keep rising until early 2010 and inflation pressures to stay muted.

The Bank of Canada lowered its policy rate effectively to zero and exceptionally committed to holding the rate at this level until the end of June 2010, conditional on the inflation outlook. Supplementary monetary measures do not appear warranted for now, but the fiscal authorities retain room for further temporary fiscal stimulus should the recovery fail to materialise as expected in the latter part of this year.

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See also www.oecd.org/canada

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©OECD Observer No 274, July 2009




Economic data

GDP growth: +0.2% Q4 2019
Consumer price inflation: 2.3% January 2020
Trade (G20): -0.1% exp, -1.3% imp, Q4 2019
Unemployment: 5.1% January 2020
Last update: 11 March 2020

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