Canada Interest Rate

The Bank of Canada held its target overnight rate at 2.25% in December 2025, keeping the Bank Rate at 2.50% and the deposit rate at 2.20% after signalling in October that the policy rate was about right. Growth surprised to the upside with GDP expanding 2.6% in the third quarter, while the labour market showed improvement as the unemployment rate fell to 6.5% in November. CPI inflation slowed to 2.2% in October and the Bank judges measures of core inflation remain in the 2.5% to 3% range with underlying inflation around 2.5%. Policymakers noted ongoing global uncertainty, tariff driven pressures and volatile trade which may continue to cause quarterly swings in GDP. If inflation and activity evolve broadly in line with the October projection the Governing Council sees the current policy rate about right to keep inflation close to 2% while helping the economy through this period of structural adjustment, but it stands ready to respond if the outlook changes.