The Canadian dollar continues to lose ground. In the North American session, USD/CAD is trading at 1.4315, up 0.48% at the time of writing. The Canadian dollar has declined 2.2% in December and is trading at its lowest level since mid-March.

Canada's inflation eased to 1.9% in November, down from 2% in October and shy of the market expectations of 2%. However, the trimmed-mean core rate remained unchanged at  2.7%, higher than the market estimate of 2.5%. This is above the Bank of Canada's target of 2% and will complicate plans to continue to lower interest rates.

The BoC has been the leader among major central banks in lowering rates, with five rate cuts since June for a total of 175 basis points. The central bank chopped the benchmark rate by 50 basis points to 3.25% last week but indicated in the rate statement that it expected a "more gradual approach to monetary policy", which means we can expect 25-bp increments in rate cuts if there are no surprises in inflation or employment data.

US retail sales sparkled, another sign that the US economy remains robust. Retail sales jumped 3.8% y/y in November, following an upwardly revised 2.9% in October. This was the highest annual gain since last December. Monthly, retail sales rose 0.7%, above the upwardly revised 0.5% gain in October and the market estimate of 0.5%.

US consumers have opened their wallets for the holiday season and motor vehicles and online sales helped drive the gain. The strong retail sales report didn't change expectations for a rate cut on Wednesday, which stand at 99%, according to the CME's FedWatch.

US PMIs on Monday pointed to a mixed bag. The Services PMI rose in December to 58.5 from 56.1 in November and above the forecast of 55.7. This was the highest level in over three years as the services economy is showing impressive expansion. The manufacturing sector is in dreadful shape and weakened to 48.3, down from 49.7 in November and below the market estimate of 49.8. Output and new orders are down as the demand for exports remains weak.

USD/CAD is testing resistance at 1.4289. Above, there is resistance at 1.4343

1.4191 and 1.4137 are the next support levels
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