AI Data Insight
The Bank of Canada kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.25% in the second quarter of 2026, holding steady for the fifth consecutive meeting, completely in line with market consensus. Driven by rising oil prices due to the Middle East war, recent inflation rebounded to 2.8%, but Q1 GDP unexpectedly contracted by 0.1%, leaving the central bank facing severe challenges between fighting inflation and stabilizing the economy.