Annual Inflation Hits 3.7% in Canada–A New Election Issue

General Bob Rees 18 Aug

Annual Inflation Hits 3.7% in Canada–A New Election Issue This morning’s Stats Canada release showed that the July CPI surged to a 3.7% year-over-year pace, well above the 3.1% pace recorded in June. This is now the fourth consecutive month in which inflation is above the1% to 3% target band of the Bank of Canada. […]

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The Slowdown In Canadian Housing Continued in July

General Bob Rees 16 Aug

  The Slowdown In Canadian Housing Continued in July Today the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) released statistics showing national existing home sales fell 3.5% nationally from June to July 2021–the fourth consecutive monthly decline. Over the same period, the number of newly listed properties dropped 8.8%, and the MLS Home Price Index rose 0.6% and was up […]

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Canada’s Jobs Recovery Continued in July

General Bob Rees 9 Aug

Thank you Dr. Cooper for the great analysis!   Canada’s labour market continued its recovery in July as health restrictions were lifted, but the gains were shy of expectations. The report signals the economic rebound is intact and shows companies are finding workers as pandemic restrictions vanish. The smaller-than-expected increase, though, could cast some doubt […]

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Bank of Canada ‘On the Vanguard’ of Unwinding Stimulus

General Bob Rees 14 Jul

Bank of Canada ‘On the Vanguard’ of Unwinding Stimulus The Bank of Canada raised its inflation forecast in the newly released July Monetary Policy Report (MPR), making it one of the most hawkish central banks in the world. The Bank announced its third action to reduce its emergency bond-buying stimulus program by one-third. The central bank was […]

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Canada’s Jobs Recovery Resumed in June as Lockdown Began to Ease

General Bob Rees 13 Jul

Thank you Dr Cooper!   Canada’s Jobs Recovery Resumed in June as Lockdown Began to Ease This morning, Statistics Canada released the June 2021 Labour Force Survey showing employment rose 230,700 (1.2%) in June, rebounding from a cumulative decline over the previous two months of 275,000. Total hours worked were little changed. The national unemployment rate fell 0.4 […]

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Residential Market Commentary – Mortgage debt milestone

General Bob Rees 29 Jun

Thank you to our partners at First National LP for the below Residential Market Commentary – Mortgage debt milestone Canada’s economy has hit a striking new milestone.  Real estate secured debt is virtually equal to the country’s GDP. Statistics Canada says that, as of the end of April, the combination of mortgage debt and home […]

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The Slowdown In Canadian Housing Continued in May

General Bob Rees 15 Jun

The Slowdown In Canadian Housing Continued in May Today the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) released statistics showing national existing home sales fell 7.4% nationally from April to May 2021, building on the 11% decline in April. Over the same period, the number of newly listed properties fell 6.4%, and the MLS Home Price Index rose 1.0%, a marked deceleration from previous […]

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Bank of Canada Holds Rates and QE Steady–Asserting That Both the Upside in Inflation and the Downside in GDP is Temporary

General Bob Rees 9 Jun

The Bank of Canada left the benchmark overnight policy rate unchanged at 0.25% and maintained its current pace of GoC bond purchases at its current pace. The Governing Council renewed its pledge to refrain from raising rates until the damage from the pandemic is fully repaired. The $3 billion weekly pace of bond-buying–known as quantitative […]

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Housing Drove the Economic Expansion in Q1

General Bob Rees 1 Jun

Thank you Dr Cooper!   Housing Drove the Economic Expansion in Q1 This morning’s Stats Canada release showed that the economy grew at a 5.6% annualized rate in the first quarter, after a revised 9.3% pace in the final quarter of last year.  That was somewhat below economists’ expectations. Housing investment grew at an annualized 43% pace, […]

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