Central bank says its job has shifted from lowering inflation to maintaining it around the 2% target
Consumer spending supported by immigration-driven population growth
Decline in raw materials, industrial product prices led by crude oil
With inflation dropping quickly and growth weak, monetary easing set to accelerate
Mortgage borrowing powers debt rise, credit card balances up too
Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says average is at highest level in 8 weeks — up from 6.32% last week
Seeing no signs of recession, bank’s rate-setting council lowers benchmark rate from 3.5% to 3.25% — its third reduction since June
Easing interest rates, coupled with rising geopolitical risk, boost outlook
Provinces hard hit by higher rates forecast to drive recovery
Two-thirds of countries had above-average employment rates