News
Canada inflation jumps higher in April as energy prices drive headline gains
1+ hour, 11+ min ago (503+ words) Canadian inflation accelerated sharply in April, though less than expected, driven primarily by higher gasoline prices and fading favourable energy base effects. April marked the first month in a year that annual energy price growth was no longer being artificially…...
A quiet week with a loud inflation complaint
4+ day, 2+ hour ago (242+ words) Next week will be quiet on the data front but we will get some useful signals coming from University of Michigan consumer sentiment, S&P PMIs, as well as some regional Fed Surveys (Kansas City Fed Manufacturing and Services, New…...
Q1 Canadian consumer signals: Energy costs bite but households aren't cutting back
5+ day, 22+ hour ago (958+ words) The Canadian consumer has proven remarkably resilient over the past year. Despite trade wars, immigration cuts, and persistent economic uncertainty, household spending remained a steady engine of growth. RBC cardholder data suggests that resilience extended into Q1 2026, even as a significant…...
Inflation is moving in the wrong direction for the Fed
1+ week, 25+ min ago (553+ words) There are three core themes that stood out in the April report: 1) As expected, the housing measure popped " this is alarming but entirely mechanical We previously flagged that methodological quirks surrounding the missing data during the US government shutdown could…...
Canada's unemployment rose in April but details less alarming
1+ week, 4+ day ago (532+ words) Canada lost 18, 000 jobs in April, adding to declines in earlier in the year for a cumulative loss of 112, 000 in 2026 to date. The unemployment rate ticked back up to 6. 9%, matching last April's level. Hours worked remained essentially flat, and the labour…...
Inflation pressures build as consumers lean on savings - RBC Economics
1+ week, 4+ day ago (346+ words) Part of the acceleration will likely come from housing inflation. Challenges associated with missing data during the October government shutdown led to methodology changes that could translate to a hotter-than-usual housing print in the April. Since housing accounts for roughly…...
Canadian trade balance back in surplus as energy prices surge
2+ week, 1+ hour ago (305+ words) The Canadian merchandise trade deficit swung sharply back to surplus in March (+1. 8 billion from -$5. 1 billion in February)led largely by a surge in crude oil prices and another sharp increase in gold exports." Crude oil exports jumped by 18. 9% from February…...
Trade Zone: A perfect storm rippling across the world's food supply chains
2+ week, 3+ day ago (578+ words) Food prices were expected to stabilize globally in 2026, but disruptions have materially changed that outlook. Instead of easing, risks are now skewed toward renewed food inflation. Generally, the fertilizer price shock creates a delayed but powerful effect: Farmers reduce fertilizer…...
Bank of Canada meeting recap: Vigilant but patient
2+ week, 5+ day ago (637+ words) As expected, the Bank of Canada held the overnight rate at 2. 25% at its third meeting of 2026 (a fourth consecutive hold) and reiterated that, should the central bank's base-case economic outlook hold true, a policy rate close to current levels remains…...
Growth focused, deficit fuelled: Same federal strategy in update 2026
3+ week, 14+ hour ago (1165+ words) The federal government's 2026 Spring Economic Update was more of the same strategy, staying true to the course set out in Budget 2025 of big (growth-focused) spending, with few surprises but a couple of complementary additions. Recently announced affordability measures were incorporated…...