Canadian new vehicle sales picked up, but supply chain hiccups are hitting the market. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) reported 94,624 new vehicles sold in January 2022, up 15.3% from the previous year. The increase is huge, but it’s being compared to the slowest January since 2011. The second slowest was this past one, as the […]
One of Canada’s largest banks just made the most aggressive interest rate forecast yet. Scotiabank now sees the Bank of Canada (BoC) overnight rate hitting 3.0% by next year. The bank acknowledges it’s an aggressive call, but it’s needed to control inflation. They feel the BoC kept rates too low for too long, and now […]
Canada’s economy is leaning on real estate once again. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows building construction investment hit $19.1 billion in January. Investment is 3.4% higher than a month before, and 12.0% higher than it was last year. There’s a bit of a catch though — the growth disappears once adjusted for inflation. It […]
Canadians are still saving at an elevated rate, but it’s on the path to normalization — that’s a good thing. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows the household savings rate fell to 6.4% in Q4 2021. The rate was 9% in the previous quarter and 11.4% in the same quarter last year. A shrinking savings […]
Canadian employment made huge gains, as the economy continues to bounce back. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) reported employment increased by 337,000 (+1.8%) jobs in February. Rising jobs pushed the unemployment rate down to just 5.5%, the lowest since May 2019, before public health measures. Experts see the robust employment gains supporting much higher interest rates. […]
We’re only two months into the year but Canada’s real estate market is seeing the inventory story change fast. An analysis from RBC shows key markets have seen inventory improve for February. The bank hesitates to call it a trend, but markets are getting close to “balanced.” As interest rates rise, home sales are expected […]
The global energy shock is driving costs higher everywhere, and Canadians can feel it at the pump. BMO Capital Markets took a stab at estimating the consumer impact from rising prices. Their research shows gas was ~$1.80/liter on Monday, up from $1.60/liter last week. That’s on top of the increase from last year, sending costs […]
Canada’s economy was briefly less dependent on real estate, but that was short-lived. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows residential investment outpaced GDP in Q4 2021. As a share of GDP, residential investment is under last year’s record, but rising quickly. An increased reliance on real estate is a trend that began over two decades […]
A Canadian Big Six bank took on a key narrative from the central bank in a research note to clients this weekend. BMO Capital Markets‘ Rates and Macro Strategist Benjamin Reitzes addressed remarks from the Bank of Canada (BoC) Governor Tiff Macklem. Last week the Governor said high inflation was a supply issue, and low […]
Canadian real estate got some more bad news this week — building intentions are once again back in correction territory. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows building permits made further declines in January. A sign of future activity, consistent declines may show building is past its peak. Permits are still much higher than was normal […]
