The latest poll from Reuters
The consensus estimate of a poll from Reuters now sees the Bank of Canada hiking rates in the second quarter of 2018 compared to Q1 in the April poll.
The main worries to the downside are that the economy could take a hit from US protectionism. The majority said they were worried changes to US-Canada trade would go beyond minor tweaks.
"Concerns on the trade front, particularly after the lumber issue, will likely keep the Bank of Canada on hold at least through this year as it judges how the Canadian economy performs," said Nick Exarhos, economist at CIBC Capital Markets.
The change in the timing is part of the long-standing among Canadian economists. They have bounced around between Q1, Q2 and Q3 of 2018 for the past six months.
