USD/CAD stays near 1.3700 after expected decline in US inflation


  • USD/CAD changes little near 1.3700 after the release of the US CPI report for July.
  • The inflation data showed that year-on-year price pressures decelerated expectedly.
  • The BoC is expected to cut interest rates for the third time in a row.

The USD/CAD pair hovers near the round-level support of 1.3700 in Wednesday’s New York session. The Loonie asset changes little after the release of the United States (US) Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which shows that price pressures slowed expectedly in July.

The CPI report showed that annual headline and core inflation, which doesn’t include volatile items such as food and energy, decelerated by one-tenth to 2.9% and 3.2%, respectively. Monthly headline and core inflation rose by 0.2%.

An expected decline in the US inflation has offered cushion to the US Dollar (USD), which was on track to revisit seven-month low. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback’s value against six major currencies, finds support after posting an intraday low at 102.36.

The inflation report has boosted confidence that price pressures are on track to return to the desired rate of 2%. However, expectations of a Federal Reserve (Fed) big interest-rate cut announcement have eased. The CME FedWatch tool shows that the likelihood of a 50-basis point (bp) interest-rate reduction has eased to 41.5% from 54.5% after the release of the July’s inflation report.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Dollar (CAD) has faced mild selling pressure as Oil prices have corrected gradually after a one-way rally. The Oil prices have dropped as investors look for fresh developments on conflicts between Iran and Israel in the Middle East. It is worth noting that Canada is the leading exporter of Oil to the US and lower prices of black gold weighs on the Canadian Dollar.

This week, the Loonie will be majorly guided by the market speculation for Bank of Canada (BoC) rate cuts amid absence of top-tier economic data. Investors expect that the BoC could extend its policy-easing cycle in September to prevent labor market from worsening further.

Economic Indicator

Consumer Price Index ex Food & Energy (YoY)

Inflationary or deflationary tendencies are measured by periodically summing the prices of a basket of representative goods and services and presenting the data as the Consumer Price Index (CPI). CPI data is compiled on a monthly basis and released by the US Department of Labor Statistics. The YoY reading compares the prices of goods in the reference month to the same month a year earlier. The CPI Ex Food & Energy excludes the so-called more volatile food and energy components to give a more accurate measurement of price pressures. Generally speaking, a high reading is bullish for the US Dollar (USD), while a low reading is seen as bearish.

Read more.

Last release: Wed Aug 14, 2024 12:30

Frequency: Monthly

Actual: 3.2%

Consensus: 3.2%

Previous: 3.3%

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics

The US Federal Reserve has a dual mandate of maintaining price stability and maximum employment. According to such mandate, inflation should be at around 2% YoY and has become the weakest pillar of the central bank’s directive ever since the world suffered a pandemic, which extends to these days. Price pressures keep rising amid supply-chain issues and bottlenecks, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) hanging at multi-decade highs. The Fed has already taken measures to tame inflation and is expected to maintain an aggressive stance in the foreseeable future.

 

Share: Feed news

Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.

If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.

FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.

The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.

Recommended content


Recommended content

Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD fails to gather traction, remains below 1.1700

EUR/USD fails to gather traction, remains below 1.1700

EUR/USD fails to gather momentum, trading below 1.1700 at the end of the week.  The pair is pulled down by dwindling prospects for an EU-US trade accord, as US President Trump is expected to send a tariff letter to the European Union later today, while the continued demand for the US Dollar also keeps the risk complex under extra pressure.

Meme coins to watch as Bitcoin hits record high

Meme coins to watch as Bitcoin hits record high

Meme coins Bonk, Dogwifhat, and Floki are positioned to extend gains as the weekly recovery reaches crucial resistance levels. The meme coins gain bullish momentum on the back of Bitcoin’s (BTC) recovery run, hitting a new all-time high on Thursday. 

Gold challenges two-week highs near $3,360

Gold challenges two-week highs near $3,360

Gold gains upside impulse at the end of the week, trading near the $3,360 mark per troy ounce in respose to solid demand from te safe-haven space. Persistent trade uncertainty underpins the ongoing risk-off mood among investors, lending extra wings to the precious metal.

GBP/USD drops below 1.3500, flirts with three-week lows

GBP/USD drops below 1.3500, flirts with three-week lows

GBP/USD continues its weekly retracement on Friday, trading at its lowest level in nearly three weeks below the 1.3500 support.  The UK's poor GDP statistics drags on the British pound, while the US Dollar continues to profit from safe-haven flows, sending Cable and its risk-related peers to lower levels.

Week ahead – A storm of CPI data and China’s GDP in focus amid trade uncertainty

Week ahead – A storm of CPI data and China’s GDP in focus amid trade uncertainty

Dollar attracts safe haven flows amid trade anxiety. US inflation data could shake July Fed cut probability. UK, Canadian and Japanese CPI numbers also on tap. Weak Chinese growth may increase calls for more stimulus.

Best Brokers for EUR/USD Trading

Best Brokers for EUR/USD Trading

SPONSORED Discover the top brokers for trading EUR/USD in 2025. Our list features brokers with competitive spreads, fast execution, and powerful platforms. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, find the right partner to navigate the dynamic Forex market.

Forex MAJORS

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures

Best Brokers of 2025