Last Updated: April 12, 2023
CURRENT OVERNIGHT INTEREST RATE: 4.50% (last updated April 12, 2023)
Here are what the Bank of Canada interest rate announcements are, when they happen in 2023 and their significance.
Highlights:
The Bank of Canada is responsible for the nation’s monetary policy which includes setting the key policy rate (target overnight rate). The announcements will let the public know if there is a change made to this rate by the Bank of Canada. The prime rate is influenced by the Bank of Canada’s rate announcement, and is what major banks and financial institutions in Canada use to set interest rates for loans and lines of credit which also include variable rate mortgages. So when the Bank of Canada rate changes, mortgage rates will change accordingly.
The Bank of Canada rate announcements are predetermined and follow a set schedule for the entire year.
Bank of Canada interest rate announcement schedule for 2023:
As of April 2023, the Bank of Canada interest rate is at 4.50%. Bank economists believe that there will be another hike or two of 0.25% before the end of 2023, while others believe that the rate pause (as of March 8, 2023) might be permanent until rates pivot on lower inflation and start to drop later in the year or into 2024.
You can read more about the Canada interest rate forecast for 2023 here.
To better determine mortgage rate forecasts and understand how interest rates change over the years, it’s important to take into account historical trends. If you plan on entering the real estate market, it’s a good idea to understand how these changes will affect the housing market.
| Date* | Target (%) | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| June 7, 2023 | ? | ? |
| April 12, 2023 | 4.50 | — |
| March 8, 2023 | 4.50 | — |
| January 25, 2023 | 4.50 | +0.25 |
| December 7, 2022 | 4.25 | +0.50 |
| October 26, 2022 | 3.75 | +0.50 |
| September 7, 2022 | 3.25 | +0.75 |
| July 13, 2022 | 2.50 | +1.00 |
| June 1, 2022 | 1.50 | +0.50 |
| April 13, 2022 | 1.00 | +0.50 |
| March 2, 2022 | 0.50 | +0.25 |
| January 26, 2022 | 0.25 | — |
| December 8, 2021 | 0.25 | — |
| October 27, 2021 | 0.25 | — |
(source: Bank of Canada)
A monetary policy report is a quarterly report of the Bank of Canada’s Governing council, and will present the Bank’s base-case projection for inflation and growth in the Canadian economy, and its assessment of risks. The main goal of monetary policy is to preserve the value of money by keeping inflation low, stable and predictable. This will give Canadians more confidence to make investment and spending decisions, encourage longer-term investment in the Canadian economy, and support sustained job creation and higher productivity. Our standard of living then improves as a result of this. The inflation-control target and the flexible exchange rate are the two main parts of Canada’s monetary policy framework. This framework helps make monetary policy actions readily understandable, and enables the Bank to demonstrate its accountability to Canadians.
These reports are released when the Bank of Canada announces their target overnight rate.
You can find the reports on the Bank of Canada’s website.
If you are planning on entering the real estate market soon or are currently a homeowner, it’s important to follow along with the Bank of Canada’s rate announcements. These rate changes will have a direct impact on the housing market and housing affordability. You’ll be able to manage your expectations of the housing market better and make better decisions when it comes to your home ownership journey and budget.
Alex Leduc is Founder and CEO at Perch. Prior to starting Perch, he worked in the real estate sector for 8 years in corporate finance, strategy and analytics roles. He is currently a Technical Advisory Committee Member of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) and Co-Chair of the Canadian Lenders Association Mortgage Roundtable. Alex is a graduate of Ivey Business School from Western University and a CFA Charterholder. LinkedIn
