Canadian Inflation Jumped to 2.6% y/y in February As GST Tax Holiday Ended

General Kimberly Coutts 31 Mar

Canadian Inflation Surged to 2.6% in February, Much Stronger Than Expected The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.6% year-over-year (y/y) in February, following an increase of 1.9% in January. With the federal tax break ending on February 15, the GST and HST were reapplied to eligible products. This put upward pressure on consumer prices for those items, as taxes paid by consumers […]

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Canadian home sales plunged in February, spooked by tariff concerns

General Kimberly Coutts 31 Mar

Global Tariff Uncertainty Sidelined Buyers Canadian existing home sales plunged last month as tariff concerns moth-balled home buying intentions. According to data released Monday by the Canadian Real Estate Association, transactions fell 9.8% from January. Activity was at its lowest level since November 2023. Benchmark home prices declined 0.8%, and new listings plunged, more than […]

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Variable-Rate Mortgages: What You Should Know

General Kimberly Coutts 31 Mar

Shakespeare might have thought ‘to be or not to be’ was the ultimate question, but he wasn’t living in 2025 trying to minimize bank fees and interest charges while maximizing financial returns—and having to pay $9 for a clamshell of raspberries. This month, we’re tackling a modern dilemma: ‘Should I get a variable or fixed […]

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The Bank of Canada Cut Rates by 25 bps On Tariff Concerns

General Kimberly Coutts 12 Mar

Bank of Canada Cuts Policy Rate By 25 BPs The Bank of Canada (BoC) reduced the overnight rate by 25 basis points this morning, bringing the policy rate down to 2.75%, within the neutral range of 2.25%—2.75%. Tariff tremors have already led to a decline in consumer confidence and spending, a weakening labour market, and […]

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Canadian Job Growth Stalls in February

General Kimberly Coutts 7 Mar

Weak Canadian Job Creation Opens The Way For BoC Easing Next Week Today’s Labour Force Survey for February was weaker than expected, showing de minimis job growth last month. Employment held steady in February (+1,100; +0.0%), following three consecutive monthly increases totalling 211,000 (+1.0%) in November, December and January. On a year-over-year basis, employment was up by 387,000 (+1.9%) […]

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Trump did it–the trade war started at midnight. Stocks and currencies are falling, but so are interest rates.

General Kimberly Coutts 4 Mar

Trump Did It–Trade War Starts Today Trump has imposed tariffs of 25% on goods coming from Mexico and Canada, 10% on Canadian energy, and an additional  10% on goods from China. He justified these actions by claiming they would force Mexico and Canada to address issues related to undocumented migration and drug trafficking. However, while […]

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Spring Forward: Preparing Your Finances for the Home-Buying Season

General Kimberly Coutts 3 Mar

Spring is one of the busiest seasons in the real estate market, with buyers eager to find their dream home before summer. If you’re planning to purchase a home in Spring 2025, now is the time to get your finances in order. Being financially prepared can help you secure a mortgage with favorable terms and […]

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Canadian GDP Growth Accelerated in Q4 to 2.6% Compared to an Upwardly Revised 2.2% in Q3

General Kimberly Coutts 28 Feb

Canada Finished 2024 on a Stronger Note, But Tariffs Remain a Concern   This morning, Statistics Canada released the GDP data for the final quarter of last year, showing a stronger-than-expected increase in household final consumption spending, exports, and business investment. However, drawdowns of business inventories and higher imports tempered the overall growth. In Q4, […]

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