Inflation declined by 0.3% in August for the second monthly decline in a row thanks to cooling gasoline and energy prices, according to data released by Statistics Canada on Tuesday. The consumer price index rose by 7.0% in August on a year-over-year basis, down from a 7.6% gain in July. The easing ... READ MORE >
Canada
Canada housing starts fall amid rising rates
Canada’s housing starts fell to 267,443 in August, a 3% drop from July, continuing the decline in the housing sector because of rising interest rates, according to data released on Friday by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The drop, which stemmed entirely from starts of multiunit ... READ MORE >
Canada’s jobless rate rises off its record low
Canada lost 40,000 jobs in August, bringing the unemployment rate up to 5.4% from its record low in July as construction and education led the declines. August’s rate is the highest in seven months, and the first increase since April 2021. The change in the job numbers prompts a question: Is the ... READ MORE >
Bank of Canada increases policy rate to 3.25%
The Bank of Canada increased its policy rate by 75 basis points on Wednesday, bringing the overnight rate to 3.25%, and said that it would continue to reduce its balance sheet. The rate hike came as no surprise, with inflation still pervasive. While economic growth has moderated abroad and at ... READ MORE >
Housing proved a drag on Canada’s economy in the second quarter
Canada’s real gross domestic product rose by 0.1% in June from May amid a slumping housing sector, according to data released by Statistics Canada on Wednesday. For the second quarter overall, the economy posted a 3.3% gain, which fell short of expectations. While the economy is not in recession, the ... READ MORE >
After a strong recovery in Canada, economic headwinds set in
The Canadian economy has had a robust recovery from the lockdowns of the pandemic as pent-up consumer demand and generous government spending have fueled growth. But now with rising inflation, especially in food and energy prices, and a historically tight labour market, that growth is ... READ MORE >
Immigration is key to solving Canada’s labour shortage
There is no denying it: Canada is experiencing a historic labour shortage. The job market has been running hot for months, with the unemployment rate falling to 4.9%, the lowest on record. The pandemic and subsequent reopening have been the catalyst. At the onset of the pandemic, workers were laid ... READ MORE >
Inflation eases amid falling gasoline prices
After a year of consecutive increases, inflation has finally begun to ease, hitting 7.6% on a year-over-year in July amid declining gasoline prices. Compared to June, inflation went up by a modest 0.1%. Nonetheless, most measures of core inflation increased, which means inflation remains pervasive ... READ MORE >
Canada’s jobs fall in July as unemployment rate remains steady
Canada’s economy shed 31,000 jobs in July while the unemployment rate remained at a historic low of 4.9%, confirming what the strong gross domestic product numbers have been showing: The economy is not in recession. The low unemployment rate, released by Statistics Canada on Friday, furthers the ... READ MORE >
Canada’s GDP steady as spending on services remained strong in May
Canada’s May GDP remained unchanged from April, as increases in service spending (0.4%) offset decreases in goods-producing industries (1%), according to data released by Statistics Canada on Friday. On a year-over-year basis, GDP grew by 5.6%, exceeding expectations. This makes Canada an interesting ... READ MORE >