OTTAWA, December 23, Reuters - Canada's economy likely expanded for the sixth consecutive month in November, after matching expectations in October on broad-based increases including a manufacturing rebound, official data showed on Thursday.
Canada's real gross domestic product increased by 0.8% in October from September, in line with analyst estimates, while November GDP was most likely to increase by 0.3%, according to Statistics Canada. The GDP gain was up to 0.2% from 0.1% in September.
With November's rise, Canada's economy is only 0.1% less than pre-pandemic levels, according to Statscan.
The Bank of Canada said this month that slack in the economy had diminished, setting the stage for it to hike interest rates from historic lows.
Money markets are expecting a first hike in March 2022, though bets are increasing on an earlier move.
The Canadian dollar was trading close to 1.2827 to the greenback, or 77.96 U.S. cents, after making gains over the previous two days.