Low rates and the promise of riches from ever rising home prices sent Canadians on an epic debt binge. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows the household debt to disposable income ratio tied the record in Q1 2022. A tie might sound like we’ve seen this before, but interest rates make this situation stand out. […]
Canadian employment is the highest in 40 years but borrowers are showing signs of stress. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows non-bank lenders saw an uptick in early mortgage delinquencies for Q4 2021. However, they were able to maintain a lower default rate than commercial banks. Part of this is due to the thousands of […]
Canadian households are dealing with the highest inflation in a generation. Statistics Canada (Stats Can) released Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for April. The agency attributes recent acceleration to food and shelter, which sent growth to the highest level since the early 90s. Some might be calling a top for growth, but that’s not what […]
The Canadian economy might seem booming — but not for everyone. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) payroll data shows elevated job vacancies in February. Wages increased, as one would expect with such high job vacancies. They just failed to keep up with the kind of growth expected in a high inflation environment. Average wages grew by […]
Canadian households were hit with the fastest rise in living expenses in over 3 decades. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows the Consumer Price Index (CPI) annual growth for March was the highest in over 31 years. High crude oil prices have been the focus of most media attention, but the issue is much more […]
Canadians are used to seeing their purchasing power vaporize, but not this fast. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows annual growth for the consumer price index (CPI) hit 5.7% in February. The measure of inflation is at the highest level of growth since August 1991. Meanwhile shelter, one of the largest weights in the CPI […]
Canadian real estate might have a lot more foreign owners than previously thought. Diving through Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data, we found non-resident participation in homeownership soared in 2020. Non-resident buyers have a small share in property transfer records, but foreign capital is pouring in. In the four provinces tracked, about 1 in 10 recently […]
Canadian real estate has outgrown productive investment, and it’s not slowing down. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows building permits, considered a leading indicator for future building intentions, climbed in November. The growth is entirely attributed to home building, now running 50% above pre-2020. More housing is nice, but Canada is already sinking more investment […]
Canada is planning a lot of new construction activity, but it’s not housing they’re looking to build. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows the building permit values soared in October. The increase in permits, a leading indicator of future building activity, was due to non-residential building. Residential building actually weighed down the aggregate, falling further […]
Canadian employers are struggling to find labor but this isn’t just reopening pains. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows over one million vacant jobs in September. The common take is, this hiring boom is reopening pains as the economy grows. Further analysis of the same data set shows that might not be the case last […]
