The Bank of Canada lowered its interest rate to 3.25 per cent — an overdue move out of restrictive territory given that inflation has largely been tamed. Expect more rate cuts in early 2025 to get the economy onto an expansionary trajectory. The policy rate should come down to 2.75 per cent within the ... READ MORE >
pandemic
Back-to-normal supply chain fuels disinflation tailwind
Supply chains in the United States continued to recover in December, remaining at the pre-COVID level for the sixth straight month as most of the damage from the pandemic has now faded, according to the RSM US Supply Chain Index. The recovery in supply chains has been one of the most important factors ... READ MORE >
The pandemic response: Assessing the Main Street Lending Program
This is the second article in a series examining major economic policy responses to the pandemic that targeted small and midsize businesses. The first article looks at the Paycheck Protection Program, and the third offers policy recommendations for responding to future crises. The inability of small ... READ MORE >
The pandemic response: Assessing the Paycheck Protection Program
This is the first article in a series this week examining major economic policy responses to the pandemic that targeted small and midsize businesses. The second article will look at the Main Street Lending Program, and the third will offer policy recommendations for responding to future ... READ MORE >
5 things to know in life sciences: Week of Dec. 12, 2022
This week we look at the doctors creating a personalized medicine to help a specific patient who had exhausted all other options. We also highlight options for using data to support Medicare drug pricing negotiation, large scale DNA sequencing projects in infants, and efforts to use genome sequencing to ... READ MORE >
End of an era? Bond market selloff prompts a new regime
The dramatic fiscal and monetary response to the pandemic has elicited a structural break in globalization, growth and liquidity regimes that have driven the world's economies over the past 25 years. Gone is the hyper-globalization that was the primary driver of low inflation and low interest ... READ MORE >
Canada’s merchandise trade growth slows
After two consecutive months of strong growth, Canada’s exports leveled off in April while imports rose slightly, netting a surplus of CA$1.5 billion. While imports grew by 1.9% and exports were up by 0.6% in nominal terms, a closer look reveals that the increase came solely from rising prices, as ... READ MORE >
Bank of Canada raises rates by a half percentage point
In an effort to target inflation that is at its highest level in decades, the Bank of Canada on Wednesday increased its policy interest rate by 50 basis points, to 1%, and said it would begin to reduce its balance sheet, known as quantitative tightening. The move was widely expected following the ... READ MORE >
Canada’s GDP rises, led by construction and trade
Canada’s gross domestic product in January increased modestly by 0.2% from December as the effects of the omicron variant paused growth in the services sector. The gain came entirely from goods-producing industries, which increased by 0.8%, while the services-producing industries saw no growth because ... READ MORE >
RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index: Geopolitical tensions and possibility of a midcycle slowdown
The RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index increased in March but is showing signs of impending economic damage caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Those warning signs may be creating the conditions for a classic midcycle slowing in overall manufacturing sentiment and activity. Our index is a ... READ MORE >