USD/CAD: Loonie Rallies On Inflation Data

 | Feb 23, 2018 09:29

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 versus an expected print of +0.4%.

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%.