Dr Cooper  gives a C- …… very generous as I would give a solid F   “I’d give this budget a C-. That’s generous. It squanders what could have been a reduction in the budget deficit for a host of inconsequential spending measures. Worse still, it increases capital gains taxes, which might play well for […]

March 25, 2024 – Thank you to our Preferred Partners at First National for the below insight!   Canada’s realtors are hinting that home prices may have found their bottom. The February numbers from the Canadian Real Estate Association show price, as measured by the Aggregate Composite MLS Home Price Index (seasonally adjusted), was flat […]

Canadian Inflation Falls to 2.9% in January, Boosting Rate Cut Prospects The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.9% year-over-year in January, down sharply from December’s 3.4% reading. The most significant contributor to the deceleration was a 4% decline in y/y gasoline prices, compared to a 1.4% rise the month before (see chart below). Excluding gasoline, […]

The Bank of Canada Holds Rates Steady And Expects Rate Cuts Later This Year Today, The Bank of Canada held the overnight rate at 5% for the fourth consecutive meeting but provided an outlook suggesting that monetary easing will begin by mid-year. The Bank forecasts a soft landing for the Canadian economy, with inflation falling […]

Jobless Rates Hits 22-Month High–Led by Losses in Finance and Real Estate Employment Today’s StatsCanada Labour Force Survey for November was a mixed bag. Total employment gains were stronger than expected. However, the rising unemployment rate and drop in hours worked were signs of mounting economic weakness, especially in the financial and real estate sectors. […]

Weak October Jobs Report Likely Takes Further BoC Rate Hikes Off The Table Today’s StatsCanada Labour Force Survey for October was weak across the board. Total job gains were meagre, full-time jobs fell, hours worked were flat, wage inflation eased (a bit), and the unemployment rate rose. Employment changed little in October, up only 17,500 (0.1%), […]

Thank you to one of our preferred partners, First National, for their summary! Bank of Canada holds its interest rate steady, publishes updated economic forecasts Today, the Bank of Canada announced that it would maintain its overnight policy interest rate at 5.00%, stating that there is “growing evidence” that past interest rate increases are dampening […]

Good News On the Inflation Front Suggests Policy Rates Have Peaked Today’s inflation report for September was considerably better than expected, ending the three-month rise in inflation. Not only did the headline inflation rate fall, but so did the core measures of inflation on a year-over-year basis and a three-month moving average basis. This, in […]

Thank you to our partners at First National for the below stats and positive info.  Enjoy!     Residential Mortgage Commentary – Positive housing market sentiment Oct 2, 2023 First National Financial LP An interesting new survey suggests a growing number of Canadians may be getting ready to move back into the housing market. The […]

Bank of Canada leaves its benchmark interest rate at 5.0% Under the heading no news is good news, the Bank of Canada decided today to keep its benchmark (overnight) interest rate steady at 5.00%, putting at least a temporary hold on a policy that resulted in 10 increases stretching back to March 2022. At the […]