Featured
Better US Inflation Reading, but No Rate Relief Just Yet
The US inflation rate was fairly benign in the latest reading, with both the headline and core numbers increasing just 0.1 per cent – better than market expectations. While weaker gasoline and energy prices were expected, the surprise came from softer services and housing inflation, which were key drivers of the lower inflation print. While…
Read more
Policy Misfires Impeding Progress on Affordability
One of the biggest obstacles to addressing housing affordability is finding the right mix of policies. While there’s often an emphasis on creating a comprehensive national plan, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work when the underlying issues vary by region. We see this playing out across the country, with distinct challenges emerging in different parts of…
Read more
Canada’s Labour Market Holding Up, but Rising Unemployment a Concern
The Canadian labour market posted a modest gain of 8,800 jobs in May, outperforming economists’ expectations. Private services led the overall growth in employment for the month. So far in 2025, the finance, insurance and real estate sector has accounted for more than 85 per cent of net new job creation. In contrast, weakening business…
Read more
Investors versus Speculators: Redefining Roles in Canada’s Housing Market
A recent Globe and Mail article highlighted a proposal aimed at making it more difficult for investors to buy residential real estate. The report’s author, John Pasalis, a real estate analyst, has long expressed concern about housing affordability and the role that investors – particularly in the Toronto housing market – may play in exacerbating…
Read more
Weathering the Tariff Storm
The Canadian economy appears to have held up better than expected in the early months of the trade war. Real GDP grew at a 2.2 per cent annualized rate in Q1, outperforming the US economy, which posted a decline. This was even a slight improvement over the previous quarter, which was revised downward by half…
Read more
Do House Prices Need to Fall to Restore Housing Affordability?
Canada’s new Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Gregor Robertson has the unenviable task of improving housing affordability. He has attracted criticism for stating that falling housing prices are not necessary to accomplish this goal. For prospective buyers, lower home prices may appear to be the obvious solution, but do we really want a collapse in…
Read more
Bonds – Not So Boring Anymore
US President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful” tax bill was passed by the House of Representatives last Thursday and is headed to the Senate for approval. If it becomes law, the bill will cut taxes and increase spending. While this could provide a near-term boost to the economy, it is expected to increase the federal deficit…
Read more
Contact Us
Contact us today to set up an appointment.