Although high oil and gas prices had been good news for the Canadian economy over the past few decades, this time is different. … READ MORE >
Blog
Chart of the day: Wholesale gas prices Imply 10.4% Increase at the pump
Geopolitical tensions linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have roiled oil markets around the world. The global Brent crude benchmark has traded around $115 per barrel and the domestic West Texas Intermediate benchmark stood at $112. A year ago, those prices hovered around $60. The elevated levels translate into rising … … READ MORE >
Defense technology: Emerging trends from the fourth quarter
A roundup of key themes that emerged from fourth-quarter earnings calls in the defense technology industry. … READ MORE >
Service sector moderated amid rising prices and labor crunch
The service sector registered slower growth in February as inflation and labor shortages remained top concerns, according to a report from the Institute for Supply Management on Thursday. … READ MORE >
Initial jobless claims at lowest point since December as omicron retreats
New filings for jobless benefits fell below pre-pandemic levels for the first time since December as the economy continued to recover from the omicron surge. … READ MORE >
Bank of Canada raises rates in response to inflation
The Bank of Canada announced on Wednesday that it would raise its overnight rate to 0.5%, 25 basis points from the lower bound policy rate of 0.25%, to tackle inflation. … READ MORE >
Top 5 fintech trends to watch—now, and in the future
The fintech movement is driving a rapid evolution within the financial service industry, resulting in a new infrastructure and platform for the industry’s next generation. … READ MORE >
RSM US Financial Conditions Index shows ebbing confidence
Our composite RSM US Financial Conditions Index opened Tuesday at negative 0.2 standard deviations below zero. Although not significantly different from normal levels of risk, the overall trend shows a loss of confidence and increased volatility. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Manufacturing grows as supply chains improve
The manufacturing purchasing managers’ index rose 1 percentage point to 58.6 in February, registering the 21st consecutive month of growth. … READ MORE >
Canada’s growth picked up at end of last year as economy reopened
The Canadian economy ended last year on a strong note, expanding by 4.6% in 2021 on an annual basis thanks to a reopening economy. … READ MORE >