Weak August Jobs Report in Canada Bodes Well for a BoC Rate Cut Today’s Labour Force Survey for August was weaker than expected, indicating an excess supply in the labour market and the economy. Employment fell by 66,000 (-0.3%) in August, extending the decline recorded in July (-41,000; -0.2%). The employment decrease in August was mainly due to a […]

Today’s CPI Report Shows Headline Inflation Cooling, But Core Inflation Remains Troubling Canadian consumer prices decelerated to 1.7% y/y in July, a bit better than expected and down two ticks from June’s reading. Gasoline prices led the slowdown in the all-items CPI, falling 16.1% year over year in July, following a 13.4% decline in June. […]

View this email in your browser Canadian Homebuyers Return in July, Posting the Fourth Consecutive Sales Gain Today’s release of the July housing data by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) showed good news on the housing front. Following a disappointing spring selling season, National home sales were up 3.8% in July from the month […]

Today’s Report Shows Inflation Remains a Concern, Forestalling BoC Action Canadian consumer prices accelerated for the first time in four months in June, and underlying price pressures firmed, likely keeping the central bank from cutting interest rates later this month. The annual inflation rate in Canada rose to 1.9% in June from 1.7% in May, aligning […]

Labour Market Weakness Continued in May, Raising the Prospects of a Rate Cut at The Next BoC Meeting Today’s Labour Force Survey for March was weaker than expected. Employment decreased by 33,000 (-0.2%) in March, the first decrease since January 2022. The decline in March followed little change in February and three consecutive months of growth in November, December […]

Q1 GDP Growth Was Bolstered by Tariff Reaction As Residential Construction and Resale Activity Weakened Further Statistics Canada released Q1 GDP data showing a stronger-than-expected 2.2% seasonally adjusted annual rate, a tick above the pace of the quarter before. Exports drove growth as companies in the United States rushed to stockpile Canadian products before U.S. […]

Today’s Inflation Report Poses a Conundrum for the Bank of Canada The headline inflation report for April showed a marked slowdown in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which rose a mere 1.7% year over year (y/y), down sharply from the 2.3% rise in March. The slowdown in April was driven by lower energy prices, which fell 12.7% […]

Global Tariff Uncertainty Sidelines Buyers Canadian existing home sales were unchanged last month as tariff concerns again mothballed home-buying intentions, mainly in the GTA and GVA where sales have declined for months. Consumer confidence has fallen to rock-bottom levels as many fear the prospect of job losses and higher prices. The number of sales recorded […]