The overnight rate was increased 25 basis points to 3.75%.

Information on the Canadian and global economies received since the January Monetary Policy Report Update has been broadly in line with the Bank’s expectations, although the Canadian dollar has recently moved above the range that had been assumed in the Update. Real gross domestic product increased at an annual rate of 2.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2005, as the Bank had projected, and both CPI and core inflation have also come in as expected. Overall, indications are that the Canadian economy is continuing to operate at its full production capacity.

Recent data do not alter the Bank’s outlook for growth and inflation, including its assessment of risks, as set out in the January Update. Consistent with this view, some modest further increase in the policy interest rate may be required to keep aggregate supply and demand in balance and inflation on target over the medium term.