Bank of Canada shelves idea for digital Loonie

Bank of Canada shelves idea for digital Loonie

After several years of exploring the possibility of introducing a digital currency in Canada, the central bank is shelving the idea. The Bank of Canada confirmed to CBC News it has shifted its focus away from the idea of introducing a digital Canadian dollar, which could be used for online purchases and money transfers. The … Read more

Mark Carney joins Liberals’ economic growth task force

Mark Carney joins Liberals’ economic growth task force

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has tapped Mark Carney, the former governor of the Bank of Canada, to chair a Liberal party task force on economic growth ahead of the next federal election, the party announced Monday. Carney, whose possible future in politics has been the subject of much speculation, will consult with business, labour and … Read more

Bank of Canada cuts key interest rate to 4.25%

Bank of Canada cuts key interest rate to 4.25%

The Bank of Canada lowered its key interest rate to 4.25 per cent on Wednesday, the third consecutive cut since June.  The central bank said the reduction comes after “continued easing in broad inflationary pressures.” The key interest rate was lowered by another 25 basis points, following a pattern established earlier this summer when rates were … Read more

Canada’s inflation rate dips to 2.5% in July, lowest since March 2021

Canada’s inflation rate dips to 2.5% in July, lowest since March 2021

Canada’s annual inflation rate dropped to 2.5 per cent in July  — down from 2.7 per cent in June, Statistics Canada said Tuesday. The national statistics agency said inflation increased at the slowest pace in more than three years, since March 2021. The deceleration was attributed in part to lower prices for travel as compared to a year earlier, when travel … Read more

Bank of Canada summary suggests weak job market was a concern ahead of July rate cut

Bank of Canada summary suggests weak job market was a concern ahead of July rate cut

The Bank of Canada wants the economy to pick up speed again and some members of its governing council are concerned that weak job market conditions could hinder that process. That’s according to the central bank’s newly released summary of deliberations detailing discussions ahead of the July 24 rate decision. “With the emergence of slack … Read more

Canadian seniors are wealthier than ever. Do seniors’ discounts still make sense?

Canadian seniors are wealthier than ever. Do seniors’ discounts still make sense?

Cost of Living9:09Is it time to retire the seniors’ discount? Whether she’s attending a chamber performance or playing in one, cellist and teacher Laura Backstrom says one thing is pretty consistent — the audience “looks like a sea of white hair,” she says. In contemplating why that is, Backstrom, 60, said she initially thought it was because seniors … Read more

Bank of Canada cuts key interest rate again, more cuts ‘reasonable’ if inflation keeps easing

Bank of Canada cuts key interest rate again, more cuts ‘reasonable’ if inflation keeps easing

The Bank of Canada cut its key interest rate to 4.5 per cent on Wednesday, with governor Tiff Macklem saying during a news conference that it would be reasonable to expect further rate cuts if inflation continues to ease. The cut was widely expected by economists after inflation eased in June. It marked the central bank’s second … Read more

Inflation dipped to 2.7% in June as gas price growth slowed

Inflation dipped to 2.7% in June as gas price growth slowed

Canada’s annual inflation rate fell to 2.7 per cent in June — down from 2.9 per cent in May — mostly due to slower increases in gasoline prices, Statistics Canada said on Tuesday.  Compared to June of last year, gasoline prices rose an average of 0.4 per cent in June. That’s down from a 5.6 per cent annual increase … Read more

Inflation in U.S. drops as consumer prices unexpectedly fell in June

Inflation in U.S. drops as consumer prices unexpectedly fell in June

U.S. consumer prices unexpectedly fell and the annual increase was the smallest in a year, reinforcing views that a trend of dropping inflation was back on track in the United States, and drawing the Federal Reserve another step closer to cutting interest rates. The consumer price index dipped 0.1 per cent last month after being unchanged in May, the U.S. Labour Department’s … Read more

Average asking rent in Canada up 7% from a year ago, even as price growth slows

Average asking rent in Canada up 7% from a year ago, even as price growth slows

The average asking rent in Canada reached $2,185 in June, up seven per cent compared with a year ago despite representing the slowest annual rate of growth in 13 months, according to a report by Urbanation and Rentals.ca. The slowed pace of price growth is a sign that supply and demand are rebalancing in the rental … Read more