Consult our "blackout" guidelines for communications around fixed announcement dates.
Eight times a year, the Bank announces its decision on the setting of its key policy interest rate (the overnight rate target). Members of the Bank's Governing Council observe a communications "blackout" around the announcement of the interest rate decision. This "blackout" (or "no-comment" period) is intended to help mitigate unnecessary speculation about monetary policy actions. During the blackout, Governing Council members refrain from giving speeches and from speaking to the news media or other outside parties about the economic outlook and the direction of monetary policy, or about anything else that could be considered relevant to the economic outlook and their interest rate decision. Other senior representatives of the Bank are also expected to adhere to the blackout guidelines.
The key policy rate decision is published on a Wednesday at 9:45 Eastern Time. The blackout ends at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time when the press conference associated with the decision begins.
- In January, April, July and October, when the Monetary Policy Report is published concurrently with the key policy interest rate decision, the blackout begins on Tuesday – eight days prior to the rate decision.
- When the policy rate decision is not published in conjunction with a Monetary Policy Report, the blackout begins on Wednesday – seven days prior to the rate decision.