What we all want to know – just when will interest rates rise in Canada?
When will the Bank of Canada raise rates? Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney surprised few with the announcement on April 17 that the overnight lending rate (from which prime rates are derived) would remain unchanged. His comments, however, has begun large changes in rate-hike predictions. BMO has already moved its prediction for the next rate hike from mid-2013 to end of 2012, and many are expected to change their outlook. Swap traders are pricing in a 90-per-cent chance of a rate hike by the end of 2012.
With all of the negative news circulating globally, why have things changed so much over the past few months? Here’s what we can take out of the Bank of Canada’s comments:
1. Growth will be watched more closely than inflation. Economic growth forecasts have increased from two per cent to 2.4 per cent over the past month, as 82,300 jobs were created in March (a reduction of 0.2 per cent unemployment). Because there is so much money sitting on the side-lines, growth is a good indicator of potential inflation. Inflation was just under the two-per-cent target at 1.9 per cent in March.
2. Carney is now forecasting that Canada’s economy will return to full capacity in the first half of 2013, three to six months earlier than originally forecast. Full capacity is the limit at which the economy can grow without excessive inflation.
3. Global economic factors are improving. Greece’s bailout helped calm down European markets (especially bond markets). Carney predicts a strong second half of 2012 for Europe.
The above factors, combined with a constant reminder that consumer debt in Canada is above the comfort zone, may see rates rise more quickly than anticipated. Five-year bond rates (which heavily influence fixed rates) shot up nearly 0.1 per cent after the Bank of Canada announcement, anticipating a quicker recovery than originally forecast.
Don’t hit the panic button just yet, though. We have all been through times of positive spring numbers only to be disappointed by the summer, so expect the Bank of Canada to be cautious when evaluating a rate hike. Last spring most banks and economists had predicted the prime rate would be at four per cent by fourth quarter 2011, only to drastically change their outlook by summer and into fall. If the economic momentum carries through the summer and into third quarter, it would be expected that we see a reasonable .25 per cent increase in third or fourth quarter this year.
Source: Kyle Green is a mortgage broker with Mortgage Alliance Meridian Mortgage Service Inc.
May 10th, 2012 at 7:08 pm
People have been saying that rates have to rise soon, for years now. Maybe when they stop saying that they will rise. I hope not because it has been great with a variable mortgage around prime.
May 11th, 2012 at 1:27 pm
I agree Ray, but unfortunately it appears to be an inevitability.
July 14th, 2012 at 8:28 am
Pension investment returns are being hurt by these
ridiculously low rates. Investing RRSP’s and GIC’s at
a rate of 1.5% (top) is nonsense…at a time when
retirement savings are encouraged?
July 25th, 2012 at 5:23 pm
Governments don’t give a sh.. about investors, pensioners and others who depend on interest rates to survive and grow. The BOC has effectively forced (ripped off) people with money to subsidize growth. What has it accomplished?…record high debt levels, a real estate bubble, inflation, billions in lost net worth, and untold misery when rates eventually rise.
August 16th, 2012 at 11:56 am
We need interest rate to rise ASAP. We should encourage people to save, not borrow.