Bank of Canada to announce today possible interest rate hike

OTTAWA – The Bank of Canada is scheduled to announce its key interest rate target later today, and expectations are it will raise it for the first time in nearly seven years.

A majority of economists expect the central bank to raise the rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 0.75 per cent.

READ MORE: Bank of Canada expected to hike interest rate for 1st time in almost 7 years

Such a move would increase the costs of variable rate mortgages, home equity lines of credit and other loans linked to the big bank prime rates.

The announcement comes following a series of data suggesting the economy started the year on a strong footing even as inflation has remained below the Bank of Canada’s target of two per cent.

INTEREST RATE HIKE: Most Canadians would struggle to pay just $130 more a month, survey shows

The central bank last raised its key interest rate target in September 2010.

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