The Globe and Mail reports in its Saturday edition that the Canadian economy rebounded sharply in the third quarter, largely due to changes in imports and exports that obscured weakness in domestic demand. The Globe's Mark Rendell writes that Canada's real GDP grew 2.6 per cent in the third quarter, following a revised 1.8-per-cent contraction in the second quarter, according to Statistics Canada. The strong GDP result exceeded Bay Street expectations and helped Canada avoid a "technical recession," but it was primarily due to unique trade figures rather than widespread economic improvement. Statscan's flash estimate indicated a GDP contraction in October, highlighting ongoing economic struggles amid uncertainty over U.S. trade policy. The mixed details of the report support Bay Street's expectation that the Bank of Canada will keep interest rates steady at the Dec. 10 announcement, as the central bank suggested it has likely concluded its monetary policy easing cycle. Oxford Economics economist Tony Stillo says, "Overall final domestic demand was flat in Q3, so the stronger-than-expected rebound in headline GDP more so reflects a mathematical boost from falling imports rather than underlying economic strength."