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Results from the Business Outlook Survey and the Business Leaders’ Pulse show that overall business conditions remain subdued, but firms are beginning to anticipate improvements in activity. Sales outlooks continue to show signs of improvement after a period of weakness. Yet many businesses still have spare capacity, which is reducing their need to expand. Firms expect cost growth, including wages, to soften further. Expectations for inflation moved slightly higher but remain within the Bank of Canada’s target range.

Results from the CSCE show that consumer sentiment improved this quarter, mainly due to recent interest rate cuts and the expectation of further cuts ahead. Consumers reported stronger spending plans. Still, they reported that high prices of many goods and services, economic uncertainty and elevated housing costs continue to weigh on spending decisions. Consumer confidence in the labour market has weakened and is now slightly below the survey average. Consumers’ inflation expectations have largely returned to historical norms.

This is an account of the deliberations of the Bank of Canada’s Governing Council leading to the monetary policy decision on December 11, 2024.

Indigenous businesses make a valuable contribution to Canada’s economy, but we still have much to learn about what makes them distinct.

Quarterly Financial Report - Third Quarter 2024 - For the period ended September 30, 2024, unaudited

This is an account of the deliberations of the Bank of Canada’s Governing Council leading to the monetary policy decision on October 23, 2024.

The Market Participants Survey results are based on questionnaire responses from about 30 financial market participants.

Monetary policy has worked to reduce price pressures in the Canadian economy. Inflation is now around 2% and is expected to remain near the middle of the Bank of Canada’s control range of 1% to 3% over the projection.

Results from the Business Outlook Survey and the Business Leaders’ Pulse show that inflationary pressures continue to ease. Firms feel appropriately equipped to meet current and anticipated soft demand. Their investment and hiring plans are therefore modest. Expectations for growth in wages, input costs and selling prices have continued to normalize as inflation has come down.

Consumers’ perceptions of current inflation and their expectations for inflation over the next year have declined this quarter, although they remain higher than they were before the COVID‑19 pandemic. Perceptions of financial stress have improved. And, given recent interest rate cuts and lower inflation, fewer consumers reported reducing their spending. However, consumers expect interest rates to remain elevated, which is affecting their spending decisions. Perceptions of the labour market have weakened further, with young consumers reporting a more pronounced deterioration than others. Still, overall, job prospects are close to survey averages.