Canada Economics Update Is the Bank right to dismiss CPI-trim and CPI-median? We are not convinced by the Bank of Canada’s recent claim that CPI-trim and CPI-median are currently overstating underlying inflation, although their elevated level compared to CPI-common is mainly... 26th August 2021 · 5 mins read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report Crude oil stocks fell again last week and implied gasoline demand rose, in broadly positive news for oil prices. For now, US consumers appear to be shrugging off the spread of the Delta variant of... 25th August 2021 · 2 mins read
US Data Response Durable Goods (Jul.) The 0.1% m/m fall in durable goods orders in July was entirely due to a plunge in the volatile commercial aircraft component. The underlying details suggest that growth in business equipment... 25th August 2021 · 2 mins read
US Economics Update New fiscal stimulus likely to be underwhelming The bipartisan infrastructure deal, which could be passed by end-September, would provide no meaningful boost to the economy over the next couple of years. The $3.5trn spending package that Democrats... 25th August 2021 · 4 mins read
US Housing Market Data Response New Home Sales (Jul.) After a run of declines, new home sales eked out a small gain in July. The recent weakness in sales data likely reflects homebuilders restricting sales as they try to catch-up with the surge in demand... 24th August 2021 · 2 mins read
Canada Chart Pack Fourth wave could delay recovery GDP is on track to return to its pre-pandemic level this month but, with the number of coronavirus infections now picking up, there is a growing risk that the recoveries in some sectors go into... 24th August 2021 · 8 mins read
US Housing Market Data Response Existing Home Sales (Jul) Existing home sales surprised on the upside in July, rising for the second consecutive month. But with demand easing and inventory at record lows, we doubt this is the start of a resurgence. Instead... 23rd August 2021 · 2 mins read
US Commercial Property Valuation Monitor Property valuations stabilise in Q2 Following a sharp deterioration in the previous quarter, property valuations held steady in Q2. But while changes so far in Q3 point to only a slight worsening in valuations, we expect Treasury yields... 23rd August 2021 · 6 mins read
US Economics Weekly Fed still to decide on taper timeline The Fed now looks likely to begin tapering its asset purchases later this year, but the precise timing could depend on the extent of any economic drag from the continued rapid spread of the Delta... 20th August 2021 · 6 mins read
Canada Economics Weekly Trudeau risks a fourth-wave election Even if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to trigger an election during the emerging fourth wave of the pandemic does not backfire, we doubt a majority win for the Liberals on September 20 th... 20th August 2021 · 3 mins read
Canada Data Response Retail Sales (Jun.) The re-opening of non-essential stores drove a 4.2% m/m rise in retail sales in June. While the preliminary estimate for July suggests retail sales dropped back again, that was most likely because... 20th August 2021 · 3 mins read
Energy Watch Oil prices would still fall even if OPEC expands In this Energy Watch, we discuss the future of OPEC and its role in the oil market. While we suspect that its membership may expand, we think that its ability to influence oil prices will fall over... 19th August 2021 · 7 mins read
Canada Data Response Teranet House Prices (Jul.) The Teranet measure of house price inflation accelerated to a 32-year high in July and is on track to pick up further in August. That should mark the peak but, with the sales-to-new listing ratio... 19th August 2021 · 2 mins read
US Housing End of eviction ban won’t stop recovery in rents The eviction ban has been extended to early October, but we doubt it will be renewed again. Given the strength of the labour market, significant government support and robust rental demand, the... 19th August 2021 · 3 mins read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report While crude stocks fell again last week, gasoline inventories rose a little and there was a further pullback in implied gasoline demand. Given the ongoing rise in virus infections and some re... 18th August 2021 · 2 mins read
Asset Allocation Update On the relative valuations of US housing and equities Despite growing talk of another bubble in the US housing market, its valuation remains far less stretched than that of the US stock market and is not alarming in our view given the prospects for... 18th August 2021 · 4 mins read
