Statistics Canada is set to release its fourth quarter gross domestic product report on Thursday.
A preliminary estimate from the federal agency suggests real gross domestic product increased 1.2 per cent on an annualized basis, following a decline of a similar magnitude in the third quarter.
RBC says it also expects the economy grew in the fourth quarter, but by an annualized rate of 0.5 per cent.
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The bank says although that would mean the economy skirts a recession, it would mark the sixth straight quarterly decline on a per-capita basis.
The Canadian economy has slowed under the weight of higher interest rates as consumers rein in spending, slowing sales for businesses.
But so far, the economy has avoided a sharp downturn, as the unemployment rate continues to hover around pre-pandemic levels.
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