Bank of Canada worries a rate cut now could overheat the spring housing market

The Bank of Canada is trying to thread a needle. It's keeping rates higher for longer at least in part because it's worried a rate cut now could undermine the last two years of pain and progress.

«We don't want to keep monetary policy this restrictive for longer than we have to. But nor do we want to jeopardize the progress we've made in bringing inflation down,» said bank governor Tiff Macklem.

On Wednesday, the Bank of Canada announced it would hold its key interest rate at five per cent, where it has stayed since July.

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One key cause for concern is a housing market that's showing signs of heating up. The benchmark average home price in Canada is down more than 17 per cent from its peak in 2022. But the numbers for December and January indicate the market may have bottomed out and started to rebound.

«Sales are up, market conditions have tightened quite a bit, and there has been anecdotal evidence of renewed competition among buyers,» said Shaun Cathcart, senior economist with the Canadian Real Estate Association.

Macklem says the central bank is keeping a close eye on how the housing market behaves. In a news conference on Wednesday, he said his projections show the market is already picking up speed. He's worried that could accelerate.

«Could that rebound be stronger than we've expected? Yes, it could,» he said. «And that is an upside risk.»

The question is what may happen if the Bank of Canada cuts rates now, just as the housing market is heading into the spring — which usually sees a surge in activity.

«A rate cut would add fuel to