The participants, surveyed from March 9 to 23, cited weaker housing market and tightening of financial conditions among top risks that could curtail Canadian growth. The bank raised interest rates eight consecutive times through January in an effort to cool high inflation that peaked at a four decade high last year.
The bank has since kept rates steady at two meetings, in
part because Governor Tiff Macklem has said the goal is to slow
growth, but avoid a recession.
Annual inflation rate eased to 4.3% in March, but is still
more than double the bank's 2% target. The bank expects to hit
its inflation target by the end of next year.
The median forecast for annual inflation is 2.7% at the end
of the year, compared with a previous estimate of 2.9%.
(Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Steve Scherer in Ottawa;
Editing by Aurora Ellis)