If the majority of private sector economists are correct, the Bank of Canada will raise interest rates on July 12 for the first time in nearly seven years. Despite the Bank’s assertion as recently as January that another rate cut was “still on the table,” top officials have growing more bullish about the economy. Here’s a look at several key measures that show just how fast Canada’s economy has turned around over the past six or so months—and the one key measure that’s lagging.
Employment growth
Friday’s jobs report delivered the latest boost to those expecting a rate hike on July 12. In June the economy added roughly 45,000 net new jobs, which was the fastest pace of annual employment growth since early 2013. It wasn’t all good news—the tighter job market hasn’t translated into much bigger paycheques, with average weekly wages rising at just 1.1% from the year before, meaning that after inflation Canadians took a slight pay cut. Still, there’s no denying the strong rebound in job growth.
Hiring intentions
The boom in employment could keep on going, too, if the Bank of Canada’s business outlook survey is any indication. The latest quarterly survey, released on June 30, showed businesses were the more intent on hiring new employees than they’ve been in more than a decade. (The Bank’s gauge of hiring intentions shows the balance of businesses expecting to add new employees minus those that think their employment levels will be lower.)
Business expectations for future sales
Another key measure from the Bank of Canada’s outlook survey is the optimism businesses suddenly have about future sales of their goods and services. The Bank’s indicator of future sales gauge hasn’t been at this level since 2012.
Canadian exports
One factor driving business optimism is the increase in demand abroad for Canadian-made goods. Canada’s weak export picture had been a constant source of concern for Stephen Poloz in recent years (reminder: before he was the Governor, Poloz was the head of Export Development Canada). As recently as January the Bank expressed concern about “choppy” exports and Donald Trump’s protectionist tendencies. With exports now growing at their fastest pace since 2011, that should check off an important box for Poloz in deciding whether to increase interest rates.
Retail sales
Retailers are also enjoying the best run they’ve had in years, despite the high-profile woes of big chains like Sears (which is in bankruptcy protection) and HBC, which is slashing jobs to cut costs. Flush with cash withdrawn from the equity in their homes and other borrowed money, Canadian consumers have gone on a spending spree with gains spread across a wide variety of retail sectors, including vehicles, building materials, home furnishings, clothing and food.
Gross Domestic Product
All of this is feeding into the strongest economic growth Canada has seen since the collapse of oil prices in 2014.
Inflation
So, we have booming job market, rising optimism in businesses, soaring exports and consumer frenzy—a rate hike on July 12 must be a slam dunk, right?
Not so fast. One key ingredient is missing, and it’s the most important piece of the puzzle as far as the Bank of Canada’s mandate is concerned: inflation. Inflation has tumbled below the Bank’s 2% target, and this doesn’t include the full effect of the latest decline in oil. The question is, will this be enough to dissuade Poloz from tightening?
MORE ABOUT INTEREST RATES:
- How oil prices are messing with the Bank of Canada’s interest rate math
- Why the Bank of Canada looks ready to start raising interest rates again
- The Bank of Canada interest rate decision shows Sunny Stephen is back
- Higher interest rates are back on the Bank of Canada’s radar
- The Bank of Canada keeps urging caution as markets show signs of life
- Why is Bay Street so much more bullish than the Bank of Canada right now?
- The Bank of Canada warns that a Trump surge won’t stoke much growth here
- How higher interest rates could make Ontario’s debt problems even worse
