The RSM Canada Supply Chain Index accounts for factors affecting the delivery of intermediate goods to manufacturers and service providers, providing an overview of the economic conditions surrounding supply chains and offering a forward look for businesses. … READ MORE >
Canadian retail sales fall as chip shortage hurts auto sales
Retail sales in Canada decreased by 0.6% in September, to CA$56.6 billion, as a severe shortage of semiconductor chips slowed production in the auto industry. … READ MORE >
Inflation in Canada hits 4.7% amid soaring gas prices
October inflation in Canada climbed to 4.7%, the highest since February 2003 and up from 4.4% in September, primarily because of skyrocketing gasoline prices. … READ MORE >
Housing starts in Canada dropped for the fifth consecutive month
Housing starts in Canada dropped for the fifth consecutive month to 236,554 in October, down by 5.3% from September as builders grappled with shortages of materials and workers. … READ MORE >
How the construction industry can work toward a net-zero future
The construction industry has been resilient through the pandemic even as it confronts shortages of workers and raw materials, and rising inflation. But these challenges will pale in comparison to the ones that contractors will face as nations race to meet aggressive goals in reducing carbon emissions. … READ MORE >
As world moves to renewable energy, storage looms as a major hurdle
It’s little mystery that wind and solar power will be a significant part of the answer. Yet even as their costs of production have plummeted, storage capacity will stand in the way of their widespread adoption. … READ MORE >
Carbon pricing—in the spotlight at COP26—could mean big shifts for global trade
Though long touted by economists as the solution to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change, carbon pricing has for years been mostly abstract. Discussions at COP26, however, indicate the textbook solution might soon become a reality for more than a few select countries and industries. … READ MORE >
Canada employment steady as more sectors return to pre-pandemic levels
Canada’s economy continued its gradual recovery as the unemployment rate fell to 6.7% in October, the fifth month of decline in a row, according to data released Friday by Statistics Canada. … READ MORE >
Canada’s trade surplus widened amid microchip shortage
Canada’s merchandise trade balance had the fourth consecutive month of surplus in October as global supply chain bottlenecks debilitated the automotive industry. … READ MORE >
RSM Canada Financial Conditions Index: An inflation tantrum?
Financial markets around the world are reacting to the rising risk of inflation and the prospect of policy responses by central banks, all of which have led to a modest easing in our RSM Canada Financial Conditions Index. … READ MORE >