Interest Rate Peak: Are We There Yet?
Canadian homeowners grappling with rising prices and mounting mortgage payments want to know when central banks will stop raising interest rates. The labour market may provide a clue. US Outlook US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell’s remarks at the recent Jackson Hole Economic Symposium provide some insight into what central bankers are thinking. For the…
Read moreCould the Missing Middle be the Solution to Canada’s Housing Crisis?
The factors leading to Canada’s housing crisis are as varied as the potential solutions. The most pressing challenges are faced by Canada’s largest cities, where intensification strategies must be feasible in a way that is acceptable to existing residents. Urban planners have been focused on the ‘missing middle’ – medium-density housing somewhere between single-family residential…
Read moreIs a Slowing Global Economy Enough to Cool Core Inflation?
Last week saw some market movements – the TSX rose a half of a percent on higher oil prices, and yields were up a few of basis points across the yield curve – but it was a quiet week otherwise. Statistics Canada’s update on international trade and investment activity was the only data release for…
Read moreRates Increases Finally Taking Hold
Recent data releases provide the surest sign yet that the spate of interest rate hikes since last spring are finally having their intended impact. While real gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.3% in May, the more telling data is the June estimate, which points to a contraction. Estimates indicate real GDP fell 0.2% for the…
Read moreCanadian Retail Sales Stalling as Higher Rates Take a Bite
After showing strength in late 2022 and early 2023, consumer spending appears to be stalling. Retail sales were flat in June, based on preliminary estimates from Statistics Canada. That followed a 0.2% increase the previous month, falling short of the 0.5% increase economics were expecting. This slowing in consumption is more pronounced after adjusting for…
Read moreHousing Targets – Ready, Fire, Aim
In an average year, Canada constructs 200,000 new housing units, including single family dwellings, condos, and other types of homes. Although the pace of construction has been increasing over the past few years, it’s not nearly enough to address affordability challenges and keep up with the demand resulting from a growing population. It is estimated…
Read moreHousing Markets Remain Resilient
After experiencing large swings over the past year, Canadian home sales appear to be stabilizing based on the latest data from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). Home sales activity was up in June in most provinces, with Newfoundland (+19.0%) and Nova Scotia (+7.5%) out front, followed by Manitoba (+4.8%), Alberta (+4.7%), and BC (+4.5%)….
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