Canada Economics Update Bank of Canada taking a big gamble on rate hikes The Bank of Canada’s decision to raise interest rates for a second consecutive time is a clear sign that policymakers are supremely confident in the economy. Considering the strong pace of recent GDP... 6th September 2017 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response International Merchandise Trade (Jul.) Despite the recent improvement in global trade activity, merchandise export volumes fell for the second consecutive month in July, hinting at a slower pace of overall economic growth in the third... 6th September 2017 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Weekly GDP growth bound to slow after blazing pace in H1 Although the real economy grew strongly over the first half of this year, that growth still appears to be overly dependent on the heavily indebted household sector. That arrangement was possible when... 1st September 2017 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response GDP (Q2 2017) Despite a drop in housing investment, the economic growth accelerated to 4.5% q/q annualised in the second quarter, led by exports and household consumption. This showing was much stronger than the 3... 31st August 2017 · 1 min read
Bank of Canada Watch Don’t rule out an interest rate hike next week The incoming economic data have been generally strong and will encourage the Bank of Canada to raise interest rates further to 1.00%, from 0.75%, before the end of this year. We wouldn’t rule out a... 30th August 2017 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Weekly Households still living the high life Household consumption grew very strongly in the second quarter, supported by a further decline in the household saving rate and an acceleration in household borrowing. In the tougher banking... 25th August 2017 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Weekly Canada will be up against it in NAFTA talks Canada’s trade demands heading into the historic NAFTA renegotiations this week didn’t appear to be overly ambitious, in contrast to the much more aggressive approach adopted by the US. Nevertheless... 18th August 2017 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response Consumer Prices (Jul.) The increases in headline and core inflation in July are consistent with the recent improvement in economic growth and raise the probability of a second rate hike by the Bank of Canada before December... 18th August 2017 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response Manufacturing Sales (Jun.) The 1.0% m/m decline in manufacturing sales volumes in June was broadly consistent with the drop in non-commodity exports already reported for that month. For the second quarter as a whole... 17th August 2017 · 1 min read
Canada Chart Pack Toronto housing market down and out Resale housing activity in Toronto plunged more than 40% last month and signs point to continued weakness in August. In similar fashion to Vancouver, resale activity will likely flounder over the... 16th August 2017 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response Teranet-National Bank House Prices (Jul.) Although the national annual rate of house price inflation remained at 14.2% in July, this is very much overshadowed by the more recent slump in resale housing activity over the past few months. 14th August 2017 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Weekly Supply shortage doesn’t explain high housing valuations Housing bulls argue that the surge in house prices in recent years and the current strength of new home construction are justified by strong population growth in Canada, but the data suggest otherwise... 11th August 2017 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Weekly Economy seemingly unfazed by housing slowdown Despite softening home sales, the incoming data point to solid GDP growth in the second quarter, possibly outpacing the 3.7% q/q annualised rate posted in the first quarter. Needless to say, the... 4th August 2017 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Weekly Higher Canadian dollar no threat to economy The two-month rally in the Canadian dollar, from US$0.73 to US$0.80, doesn’t pose any direct threat to the economy, particularly given the significant decline in the real trade-weighted exchange rate... 28th July 2017 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response GDP by Industry (May) Despite the recent slump in home resales, monthly GDP growth accelerated by 0.6% m/m in May, which will reinforce the Bank of Canada’s confidence that the economy can perhaps withstand higher interest... 28th July 2017 · 1 min read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report The fourth consecutive weekly drop in commercial crude stocks in the US provides further evidence that OPEC’s output cuts are starting to have an impact on inventory levels. We expect this trend to... 26th July 2017 · 1 min read