Ontario electronics retailer Factory Direct to liquidate stores

Toronto Court documents show the discount electronics and home goods retailer wanted to close its 14 stores in the province because it has found the business is “no longer viable.” Discount retailer says business is ‘no longer viable’ The Canadian Press · Posted: Feb 16, 2024 11:43 AM EST | Last Updated: 5 hours ago … Read more

High interest rates aren’t to blame for housing crisis, Bank of Canada governor says

Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says the central bank can’t solve the housing crisis with interest rates because the root cause is a supply shortage. Macklem faced multiple questions on housing affordability during an appearance before the finance committee on Thursday — one week after the bank yet again kept its key overnight interest rate at … Read more

Hong Kong court orders Chinese property developer Evergrande to liquidate

A Hong Kong court on Monday ordered the liquidation of property company China Evergrande Group, a move likely to send ripples through China’s crumbling financial markets as policy-makers scramble to contain the deepening crisis. Evergrande, the world’s most indebted developer with more than $300 billion US in total liabilities, sent a struggling property sector into a … Read more

Bank of Canada says government efforts to curb housing crisis will help ‘gradually’

The Bank of Canada says record levels of immigration are driving up the cost of housing and recent government efforts to cut the number of non-permanent residents and encourage home building will help lower housing costs, but “only gradually.”  “In the short term any increase in population, particularly in an environment of constrained supply, is going … Read more

Could Red Sea attacks reignite supply chain chaos?

Shipping traffic through the Red Sea has plummeted as Houthi militants step up their attacks on vessels in the region. American-led airstrikes have done little to deter the disruption and now the CEO of one of the biggest shipping companies in the world says the disruption will probably last at least a few months. “So for us, … Read more

UK Grocery Inflation Stays At 4.3% Despite Decline in Food Prices

In December, shop prices maintained their upward trajectory, rising by 4.3 per cent, as a surge in prices for non-food items offset a slight easing of costs on food. The rate of increase in in-store prices compared to the same period last year remained consistent with the inflation rate observed in November, following several months … Read more

What does 2024 have in store for the Canadian economy?

It’s been a long time since economic data in Canada showed very much promise. The last 18 months have been defined by a cost of living crisis and a slowing economy. But a handful of economic indicators give us some hope for 2024. Inflation has slowed dramatically, and the economy didn’t actually slip into recession. … Read more

National pharmacare plan is in limbo as health minister calls pending deadline ‘arbitrary’

Health Minister Mark Holland signalled Tuesday the government is unlikely to meet the end-of-the-year deadline imposed by the NDP for passing pharmacare legislation — a condition of the supply-and-confidence agreement that was struck to keep the Liberals in power until 2025. Holland said talks are ongoing with NDP MP Don Davies, the party’s health critic, … Read more

Time’s up for some short-term rentals in B.C. as new housing rules look set to transform scene

Nancy Paine’s short-term rental business is dead in the water. As co-founder and CEO of Victoria-based Superhost, Paine said she had been at the forefront of the Airbnb revolution for seven years, acting as a “liaison” for homeowners needing help with the logistics of running a listing on the accommodation site. At the peak of … Read more