No news is good news—at least when looking at the headline employment data. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows that both the number of jobs and the unemployment rate were unchanged in February. Looking past the headline data was less flattering, revealing that more people opting out of the workforce is the primary reason for […]
Canada’s economy finally got some good news on the productivity front. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows labor productivity jumped in Q4 2024. It was big enough to print annual growth for the first time in years. Before getting too excited, the growth was still abysmal and experts see tariff threats potentially derailing progress in […]
Greater Toronto real estate demand further eroded last month, but buyers likely didn’t notice. Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) data shows home prices climbed in February. It wasn’t due to a lack of inventory, which hit the highest level since the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. Nor was it due to sales, which fell to […]
Canada’s economy is doing much better than expected, led by consumer spending and real estate investment. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows real gross domestic product (GDP) growth surged in Q4 2024. The data came in significantly higher than the Bank of Canada (BoC) forecast. The agency also continued its trend of significant upward revisions […]
Canadian workers might want to hang onto that job extra tight—at least for the next few months. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows job vacancies plunged lower in December. Over recent months, employers have been looking to fill fewer roles against a backdrop of rising unemployment and unprecedented labor force growth. Consequently, the job vacancy […]
Canadian businesses had a rough year throughout 2024, and it didn’t get much better by year end. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows a slight drop in the number of active businesses in November. Annual growth remained positive but just barely, printing the lowest rate since 2021, when the economy was locked down & restrictions […]
Canadian real estate markets kicked the year off with exceptionally weak demand. Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) data shows the sales to new listings ratio (SNLR) slipped in January. Despite a host of measures to stimulate buying, the demand measures continued to erode as sellers significantly outpaced buyers. The issue has the county’s largest markets […]
Canada’s largest bank is starting to think the economy is doing much better than previously thought. RBC wrote to investors this afternoon, outlining its expectations for the central bank’s next rate announcement. The bank’s economists expect GDP data to be more robust than previously anticipated after strong inflation data. As a result, the Bank of […]
Canada’s tax holiday ran for two months but it probably felt much shorter, and with good reason. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows the Consumer Price Index (CPI) accelerated in January. The central bank’s preferred inflation measures are now approaching the upper bound, and will bust through it like the Kool-Aid Man once the temporary […]
Canadian real estate prices are climbing despite an eroding economic and population outlook. Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) data shows prices climbed sharply in January. It wasn’t due to a tightening market, as the growth rate of new listings was 8x that of home sales. Rising prices were almost certainly due to exuberance and policymakers […]
