Economy
February 20, 2025
The State of the Canadian Job Market and a Lookahead to an Uncertain Future
Canada’s economy is facing no shortage of risks in the months ahead, from the potential of U.S. tariffs to a population slowdown to uncertainty around the upcoming federal election. On the plus side, Canada’s labour market is starting 2025 in solid shape, providing a decent foundation to the economy as it navigates this potentially bumpy period. Indeed, for all of Canada’s economic challenges – weak economic growth, poor productivity, and deteriorating housing affordability – the job market has been serving as a pillar of economic stability.
January 28, 2025
Potential Hazards Ahead: Trade Risks in the North American Automotive Industry
The automotive industry accounts for over 10% of intraregional trade in North America, equating to hundreds of billions of dollars in cross-border trade flows and millions of jobs. Proposed blanket tariffs of 25% on Canada and Mexico, if retaliated against in equal measure, would likely result in a material contraction in vehicle sales in all three North American nations as price increases would ripple through supply chains.
January 21, 2025
Setting the Record Straight on Canada-U.S. Trade
In addition to border security concerns, Trump has argued that “the United States can no longer suffer the massive trade deficits that Canada needs to stay afloat,” claiming that the U.S. subsidizes Canada to the tune of US$200 billion annually. How “massive” is the deficit and is there validity to this claim of subsidization?
January 15, 2025
Canadian Rental Market Outlook: Rent Growth to Continue Cooling in 2025
For 2025, we expect Canadian, purpose-built rent growth to slow to a range of 3-4%. Our outlook reflects a multitude of factors such as slowing population growth, increased rental supply, and lower interest rates.
December 12, 2024
Canadian Household Balance Sheet (2024 Q4)
Canadian household wealth increased for the fourth consecutive quarter, driven by gains in financial assets. Further growth is anticipated in Q4 as North American equity markets continue to reach new record highs. An additional tailwind should come from rising home prices as consecutive 50-basis-point cuts from the Bank of Canada fuel a re-acceleration in housing activity.
October 16, 2024
Mortgage Rule Changes to Add Fuel to Canadian Housing Recovery
On December 15th, the federal government will roll out mortgage rule changes that make it easier to purchase a home for those taking out insured mortgages. These measures should offer a lift to Canadian home sales and prices next year. However, their impact will be blunted by an array of factors, including the affordability erosion induced by their implementation.
September 16, 2024
Canada’s Business Dynamism in a Post-Pandemic Slump
Already on the downshift trajectory before COVID-19, Canada’s business dynamism is struggling to get back on its feet. A slow rate of net business entries and rise in bankruptcies resulted in deteriorating business growth. Companies, employing more than 20 and less than 500 employees are at the forefront of this downturn.
September 13, 2024
U.S. 2024 Election: Economic and Financial Implications
Elections matter for the economy, but financial markets are likely to be particularly attuned to the current election cycle given America’s unsustainable fiscal trajectory. The make-up of Congress will determine how much of the future President’s agenda can be implemented. A divided Congress will likely force the next President to make significant concessions relative to their current platform proposals.
September 12, 2024
From Bad to Worse: Canada’s Productivity Slowdown is Everyone’s Problem
Canada has seen its productivity go from bad to worse since the pandemic. If Canada does not play to win on labour productivity, it risks a continued drop in living standards, worsening wage stagnation and a dangerous deterioration in public services.