Governor of the Bank of Canada Tiff Macklem listens to questions during a news conference following an interest rate announcement, at the Bank of Canada in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
By The Canadian Press
Mar 18, 2026 | 1:00 AM
OTTAWA — The Bank of Canada is expected to make an interest rate announcement this morning as it weighs the effects of the conflict in the Middle East, trade uncertainty and recent economic data.
The central bank’s key lending rate stands at 2.25 per cent after a hold in January, but the economic landscape has shifted since that decision.
A Reuters poll shows economists widely expect the bank to maintain its current policy rate.
Economists say the central bank faces choppy waters in setting monetary policy this year amid ongoing inflation risks from a global oil price shock due to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and uncertainties stemming from the upcoming review of the North American trade deal.