The Financial Post reports in its Wednesday edition that the Bank of Canada will make its first interest rate decision of 2024 on Wednesday, hopefully offering clues for when there will be relief from the high cost of borrowing. The Post's Gigi Suhanic writes that according to Desjardins analyst Royce Mendes the decision on what to do with rates is a bit of a no-brainer this time around. "You don't need a PHD in economics to determine that the target for the policy rate should remain on hold at 5 per cent," Mr. Mendes said in a note last Friday, adding that the bank finds itself in a mushy middle where growth and inflation are neither strong enough nor weak enough to warrant either an increase or a cut. Besides what to do with rates, another important decision faces the BOC on Jan. 24: Governor Tiff Macklem and his deputies will have to decide whether to emphasize inflation minus shelter or core inflation as a guide post for future decisions. "In determining whether to emphasize the progress on inflation excluding shelter or the stickiness in the core median and trim measures, governing council will effectively be communicating whether or not the door is open to rate cuts in upcoming months," Mr. Mendes said.