Loonie Rallies on Inflation Data

Statistics Canada data this morning showed that headline inflation in Canada slowed last month, while measures of underlying prices strengthened to their highest level in 18-months.

Canada’s consumer-price index rose +1.7% y/y in January, following a +1.9% advance in December.

Market expectations were for a +1.5% lift. On a month-over-month basis, prices rose +0.7% in January.

Digging deeper, today’s report indicated underlying, or core, inflation strengthened in the month. Underlying prices rose in a range from +1.8% to +1.9%, for an average of +1.83% – the highest level since mid-2016. The average in the previous month was +1.76%.

The ‘loonie’ is up +0.51% against the U.S dollar, trading atop of C$1.2659. The CAD was trading north of C$1.2712 just before this morning’s release.