Emily Mathieu Business Reporter Toronto Star

Higher than expected rates of inflation and reports of record breaking retail sales means interest rate hikes will likely go ahead, according to a top economist with BMO Capital Markets. But domestic strength might not be enough to justify increases if the upheaval in global markets continues, said Porter.

“If the (Bank of Canada’s) decision was based solely on domestic factors, then this would be no questions asked, no debate,” said Doug Porter, deputy chief economist.

The central bank has long predicted rates would rise on June 1, but Porter said doubt over the future of global economic stability could cause them to go off course.

“It would take a very brave central bank indeed, I think, to raise interest rates in the face of the turmoil we are seeing in global financial markets right now.”

According to Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index, the core index advanced 1.9 per cent during the 12 months leading up to April, following a 1.7 per cent increase in March.

The boost in April was due mainly to a rise in prices for the purchase of passenger vehicles, passenger vehicle insurance premiums, property taxes, and food purchased from restaurants, the report showed.

The seasonally adjusted monthly core index rose 0.2 per cent in April, following a 0.3 per cent decline in March.

Consumer prices across the country rose 1.8 per cent in the 12 months leading up to April, following a 1.4 per cent increase in March. In Ontario, prices rose 2.2 per cent.

Porter said BMO has no plans to alter their position that rates will rise on June 1, but said that position could change if market upheaval continues into next week.

“If Canada were an island there would be no debate,” said Porter. “There is a very compelling domestic case for higher interest rates.”

Statistics Canada reported a 2.1 per cent increase in retail sales dollars in March, to $37 billion. Porter said earlier reports had predicted sales would be close to flat. “Instead we get one of the best gains on record.”

National energy prices rose 9.8 per cent between April and the same time the previous year, following a 5.8 per cent increase during the 12 months between March 2010 and the same time the previous year. Excluding the increase in energy the index rose 1.1 per cent, compared with a 1 per cent increase in March.

For the sixth month in a row, gas prices exerted the strongest upward pressure on the index. In April, Canadians paid 16.3 per cent more at the pump than they did the same time the previous year. That change follows a 17.2 per cent increase between March of this year and the same time in 2009.

Natural gas prices were up 3.3 per cent in April than the same time the previous year. Between March 2010 and the same time the previous year prices had dropped 22.4 per cent.

The cost of transportation was up 6.2 per cent in the 12 months to April and consumers paid a 5.6 per cent more for insurance premiums in April compared to the previous year.

Housing costs were up 0.8 per cent, after declining 0.7 per cent in March, with household utilities exerting the most upward pressure. The mortgage cost index fell 6.1 per cent, the report showed.

Food prices were up 1 per cent, following a 1.3 per cent increase in March. The 1 per cent rise, largely related to prices for food purchased in restaurants, was the smallest since March 2008.

Health care prices rose 3.3 per cent, the report showed. http://www.thestar.com/business/article/812567–rate-hike-not-guaranteed