Canadian Economics: Archive

As provinces lifted restrictions, Canadians headed outdoors and spent more. Throughout the pandemic, households amassed large amounts of savings thanks to government support measures. But now that the economy is opening up, Canadians are unleashing their savings, pushing economic growth higher.

Quick take  |  2-min read
November 30, 2021

It’s human nature to want to improve things. But sometimes, in trying to make things better, we can end up making them worse. So knowing when to act, and when not to, is often a sign of wisdom. In other words, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And that is what’s needed as the Bank of Canada renews its mandate with the federal government for the next five years.

OP-ED  |  4-min read
November 29, 2021

Over the past year, businesses were understandably telling us that they thought their investment prospects would improve in the six months ahead. However, the optimism is fading, and firms are shifting their focus from the economic recovery to concerns about the pandemic’s fallout.

Quick take  |  2-min read
November 25, 2021

Supply chain disruptions are turning out to be the bane of consumer confidence. The near future doesn’t look too bright as consumers’ optimism is likely to further erode. Canadians are likely to spend less and save more due to the uncertainty surrounding future prices and supply chain disruptions that have no end in sight. Worse still, this is all brewing in the backdrop of a looming pandemic entering an endemic phase.

Quick take  |  2-min read
November 22, 2021

Supply chain disruptions are taking their toll on retail sales by limiting the number of goods retailers can sell. This is particularly evident at automotive dealerships, as the global shortage in semi-conductors has left automakers no choice but to cut production in recent months. The availability of many other goods, such as electronics and appliances, has been hit disproportionally hard by the supply crunch as well.

Quick take  |  2-min read
November 19, 2021

The U.S. economy has recovered from the devastating effects of the pandemic much faster than anticipated, and we expect to see that sometime in the second half of 2021 the gap between potential and actual growth closed.

Online experience  |  8-min read
November 18, 2021

If any good is coming of inflation this year, it’s that the vocabulary of Canadian economists is being refined. We’re now familiar with all the nuances that “permanent,” “transitory,” and “transitory but not short-lived” can imply. Semantics aside, it’s difficult to make the case that inflation is transitory.

Quick take  |  2-min read
November 17, 2021

Digital trade is growing rapidly, and the economic implications are significant. Canada can do three key things to build on our current head start in measuring digital trade. To learn more, access our research.

Video  |  50-second watch
November 17, 2021

You can’t go anywhere these days without hearing about supply chains, bottlenecks, and shortages. These disruptions are making life difficult for many Canadian manufacturers and are unlikely to go away any time soon. Shortages of key inputs and intermediate goods (including semiconductors) and shipping challenges are adding to the delays and slowdowns.

Quick take  |  2-min read
November 15, 2021

After employment surpassed the pre-pandemic level in September, you would be forgiven for thinking the jobs recovery was complete. Based on today’s population, this difference amounts to just over 250,000 jobs. There’s still lots of work to do.

Quick take  |  3-min read
November 5, 2021

Today, the government of Ontario released its fall Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review, with an emphasis on its post-pandemic recovery plan. The economic and fiscal outlook is much improved in comparison to Budget 2021, released in March. The province still forecasts a string of deficits through to 2023-24, but cumulatively, they are nearly $50 billion lower than previously expected.

Quick take  |  3-min read
November 4, 2021

Despite the improvement in the goods trade balance, September’s merchandise trade numbers were largely disappointing, as the trade sector continues to grapple with supply disturbances. The spread of the Delta variant inflamed disruptions to supply chains and continued to take a major toll on some sectors, such as the motor vehicles and parts industry.

Quick take  |  2-min read
November 4, 2021

Real GDP growth unexpectantly turned negative in the second quarter of this year, and early indicators suggested that the third quarter got off to a rocky start. Thanks to the successful rollout of vaccines in most regions of the country, there is still enough momentum in the economy to ensure that growth stays positive in the second half of this year. But the negative quarter led forecasters to pull back on overall gains in GDP.

Online Experience  |  8-min read
November 2, 2021

Following the reopening of the economy, the Canadian consumer wants to spend more. But global supply chain disruptions and labour shortages are creating challenges for firms to meet consumers’ demands. This is driving prices upwards, forcing a lot of Canadians to hold back from spending on large-ticket items.

Quick take  |  3-min read
October 29, 2021

As expected, the Bank reduced its monetary stimulus. But that was the easy part. A more arduous journey lies ahead. Supply chain disruptions are here to stay at least until the summer of next year. These disruptions are not only fanning inflation but also subduing growth.

Quick take  |  3-min read
October 27, 2021

This morning’s release is particularly encouraging for two key reasons. First, retailers are doing well despite facing more tough competition from leisure activities (such as travel and in-person dining) following the loosening of public health restrictions. Second, retail sales grew at a healthy clip despite ongoing supply chain issues, which have hurt the availability of many consumer goods.

Quick take  |  2-min read
October 22, 2021

Pedro Antunes, chief economist at the Conference Board of Canada, joins BNN Bloomberg to discuss Canada's high inflation picture. He notes the spike in CPI data could cause the Bank of Canada to quicker and more aggressively than expected.

BNN Bloomberg  |  8-min listen
October 20, 2021

Our own Sohaib Shahid, PhD joined Steve Paikin’s The Agenda to discuss our wobbly world economy including inflation, gas prices, the markets and the outlook for the Canadian and global economy.

tvo  |  28-min listen
October 20, 2021

September’s inflation print should remind the markets to go beyond the transitory vs persistent debate. Inflation has been above the Bank of Canada’s upper target range of 2 to 3 per cent for half a year. Something is transitory if it doesn’t change behavior. But we are seeing businesses change behavior, for example when it comes to setting higher prices for their goods and services.

Quick take  |  3-min read
October 20, 2021

As new COVID-19 cases dropped, consumer confidence picked up. The improvement in October’s Consumer Confidence Index mainly reflects the uptick in consumers’ confidence in future employment, as more job openings are expected following the economic reopening.

Quick take  |  1-min read
October 18, 2021

A recovering global economy means more demand for Canadian manufacturing products. Sustained growth in primary metal manufacturing (used as an input in construction and many manufacturing subsectors) is indicative of the global recovery underway. Demand for raw and intermediate materials has shot up, driving prices higher.

Quick take  |  2-min read
October 14, 2021

Pedro Antunes spoke with CBC’s Carole MacNeil to discuss the labour market in Canada including the impact of low immigration and government programs such as CRB/EI.

CBC  |  6-min listen
October 12, 2021

September marks the end of the third quarter, during which the labour market added almost 350,000 jobs. A direct result of the reopening of the economy, these gains represent a significant step forward for the labour market. With employment now past its pre-pandemic level, we expect job growth to moderate over the coming months as the economy continues to absorb spare capacity.

Quick take  |  2-min read
October 8, 2021

Canadians enjoyed greater freedom to spend on in-person dining, entertainment, and travel in July. As demand for these services grew, consumers redirected spending away from real estate and goods such as building material, garden supplies and sporting goods.

Quick take  |  2-min read
October 1, 2021

Tourism spending is sensitive to lockdowns. Despite showing some growth, the pandemic’s third wave and stringent restrictions on nonessential domestic travel kept tourism expenditures low during the second quarter. With the border closed and bans on nonessential inbound travel, international visitor expenditures in Canada also remained subdued.

Quick take  |  2-min read
September 29, 2021

Canadians have been enjoying the return of some simple pleasures over the last few months. As the vaccination rate has increased, people have been heading out to patios, booking vacations, and engaging in social activities. This is good news. But every rose has its thorn. Provincial and territorial reopenings have also brought with them a spike in prices.

Op-ed  |  4-min read
September 21, 2021

The decline in September’s Consumer Confidence Index reflects Canadians’ caution in the face of the fourth wave. Concerns over future finances and employment mean that the average Canadian will likely hold back on spending and save more for a rainy day.

Quick Take  |  2-min read
September 20, 2021

The latest inflation data reflect an economy where supply keeps falling short despite robust demand. Several factors, mostly temporary, are pushing up consumer prices. Still, uncertainty surrounding the pandemic means that the persistence and magnitude of these factors are unclear.

Quick Take  |  2-min read
September 20, 2021

Though the job gains in August are a good sign, Canada is still down jobs compared to February 2020. If employment remains subdued, a full economic recovery will take longer than expected. Combined with slower than expected economic growth in the second quarter, that could encourage the Bank of Canada to delay any further tapering to its Quantitative Easing (QE) program next month.

Quick Take  |  2-min read
September 13, 2021

The two-stage approach to tapering and future rate changes are important signals on when the bank believes Canada’s economy is robust enough to operate without the extraordinary monetary stimulus injected so far since the beginning of the pandemic.

Quick Take  |  2-min read
September 9, 2021

No surprises. With less than two weeks to the federal election, the BoC kept rates steady. Weak economic growth, lingering challenges to the labour market, and uncertainty surrounding the pandemic mean that the economy still needs substantial monetary policy support.

Quick take  |  8-min read
September 8, 2021

After two months of negative GDP growth, the economy’s downhill trek ended in June. Accelerated vaccination programs allowed some provinces to relax restrictions. This prompted Canadians to start spending on high-contact services, including indoor dining, travel, and recreation.

Quick take  |  2-min read
August 31, 2021

Sunny days for retail sales are here. An acceleration in vaccination programs in June prompted some (though not all) provinces to ease restrictions. This allowed many Canadians to head out to patios, book vacations and engage in social activities. All of which meant more spending.

Quick take  |  2-min read
August 20, 2021

Transitory or not, inflation is running hot right now. And July’s data confirms that. Whose to blame? Well, a combination of factors including lingering supply chain disruptions, base effects from last year, and greater consumer demand as provinces reopen.

Quick take  |  2-min read
August 18, 2021

Reopen and jobs will grow. That’s the mantra the labour market has followed. The labour market recovery is now at its most advanced stage since the pandemic’s onset. However, not all is fine and dandy. While July’s fall in the unemployment rate is of course welcome, the share of the unemployed who have been out of work for 27 weeks or more still account for almost 30 per cent of total unemployment.

Quick take  |  2-min read
August 6, 2021

Inflation slipped in June, partly due to a reweighting of the basket of consumer goods. The growth of gasoline prices is slowing and prices on food and clothing are cooling too. Elevated housing prices, however, continued to be the main upward contributor to last month’s inflation. We expect that inflation will trend around 3 per cent for the rest of 2021, as a result of ongoing supply shortage issues and increasing consumer demand.

Quick take  |  2-min read
July 28, 2021

The sharp rebound in economic growth this year will be led by all sectors of the economy, including consumers, business investment, government spending, and international trade. The housing sector will provide the largest boost to the economy. Due to rock-bottom interest rates and the desire for larger dwellings in less-populated parts of the country, housing markets shrugged off the effects of the pandemic last year as starts increased from 209,000 in 2019 to 218,000.

Online experience  |  8-min read
July 26, 2021

Today’s announcement from the Bank of Canada reflects its confidence in the strength of the Canadian economy. Holding policy interest rate steady, while reducing weekly net purchases of federal bonds, is an important step in our economic recovery. We anticipate CPI inflation to remain before easing next year, while the Bank is expected to keep interest rates steady until the 2 per cent inflation target is sustainably achieved.

Quick take  | 2-min read
July 14, 2021

As economic restrictions across much of Canada began to ease, the labour market responded with solid employment gains concentrated in sectors where the restrictions have been most punishing. Improvements in several high-contact service industries drove growth in part-time employment and provided welcome job growth among young and female workers.

Quick take  |  3-min read
July 9, 2021

April saw the first monthly contraction in real GDP since last year’s decline at the outset of the pandemic. Output fell, month-over-month. Statistics Canada expects output to drop in May. We anticipate that many of the hardest-hit sectors will show a bounce back in June, with our latest national forecast calling for growth in real GDP in the second quarter.

Quick take  | 3-min read
June 30, 2021

There are reasons to be optimistic as the territories emerge into a post-COVID-19 world. As the global economy bounces back over the coming years, so too will demand for commodities produced in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and Yukon.

Online experience  |  8-min read
June 28, 2021

Today’s Statistics Canada release showed that retail sales fell in April, posting their first decline since December of last year. With provincial governments implementing more stringent lockdown measures throughout the month, the results are hardly surprising. And given that restrictions mostly remained in place during May, most retailers have endured a difficult spring.

Quick take  |  3-min read
June 23, 2021

Inflation accelerated again in May, due mainly to “base effects” on gasoline prices which recovered from the plunge last spring. Higher prices for consumer goods, including cars, new homes and food also contributed to the strong inflation figure last month. Going forward, we expect strong consumer spending coupled with supply shortages will keep inflation hot for the rest of 2021.

Quick take  | 2-min read
June 16, 2021

Mario Toneguzzi’s guest on Business Insider: Pedro Antunes, Chief Economist with The Conference Board of Canada, discusses the latest economic forecast for Alberta and the country.

Calgary Business  |  8-min listen
June 9, 2021

The Bank of Canada held its policy interest rate steady while continuing its weekly net purchases of Government of Canada bonds with a target of $3 billion per week. CPI inflation is around the top of the 1-3 per cent target range but the Bank expects that to ease in the second half of the year.

Quick Take  |  2-min read
June 9, 2021

The employment declines captured in May’s labour force survey results reflect the lingering impact of the third wave of the pandemic in Canada. However, the severity of the losses is reduced compared to the previous month indicating the peak of the wave has passed.

Quick take  |  3-min read
June 4, 2021

Following two months of solid gains, real GDP rose in March, posting a monthly gain of 1.1 per cent. Overall, the economy forged ahead in the first quarter of the year, supported by strong household and government spending, residential construction and growth in exports. The growth in March is a testament to the resilience of the Canadian economy to perform well when pandemic measures are eased.

Quick take  | 4-min read
June 2, 2021

In 2020, Canada’s real exports plunged, as the global pandemic led to a collapse in demand from all of its major trading partners. The recovery in the global economy, attributable to the widespread distribution of vaccines and a reopening of economies, will help Canada’s exports rebound growth this year and in 2022.

Impact paper  |  24-min read
May 27, 2021

Inflation spiked in April, due mainly to a rebound in oil prices in the past 12 months as well as the surge in new home prices. We expect that inflation will remain hot in May given the plunge in prices that occurred in the early stage of the pandemic last year. A recovery in global demand for resources and strengthening consumer spending at home, will be the main contributors to inflation going forward.

Quick take  | 3-min read
May 19, 2021

The results from March’s Survey of Manufacturing brings signs of progress across a sector that has suffered in the wake of economic restrictions, delays in global shipping and shortages of key production inputs over the preceding months.

Quick take  | 3-min read
May 14, 2021

April’s Labour Force Survey shows the impact that tightening COVID-19 measures are having on employment in Canada. The third wave of the pandemic dealt a heavy blow to jobs in Ontario, with schools and stores forced to close. However, with the rollout of vaccines underway, we expect employment to bounce back as we have seen in the past once restrictions are eased.

Quick take  | 3-min read
May 7, 2021

Toronto’s financial centre is vital to the Canadian economy—providing jobs, growing GDP, and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises during the pandemic. Total employment in Toronto’s financial sector is ranked second in North America and eighth globally.

Online experience  |  8-min read
May 4, 2021

As national vaccinations started to pick-up in February, real GDP grew by 0.4 per cent month-over-month. With Statistics Canada’s preliminary estimate for growth in March, first quarter output will likely be higher than expected in our most recent national forecast. Yet recent surges in new cases of COVID-19 reversed the loosening of restrictions in many provinces in April. We therefore expect that growth may have cooled off in recent weeks.

Quick take  |  3-min read
April 30, 2021

Tourism and hospitality is one of Ontario’s key economic drivers. In 2019, the sector employed over 620,000 Ontarians and generated nearly $21 billion in labour income. Before the pandemic-related disruptions, employment in the sector had been stable and sustainable. However, Ontario’s labour market is steadily evolving and, for some tourism and hospitality workers, this evolution has led to job losses, and the COVID-19 pandemic has increased and accelerated these pressures.

Impact Paper  |  15-min read
April 23, 2021
Partner—Future Skills Centre

Inflation surged due to a strong rebound in consumer prices this March compared to extremely low prices in the year earlier period. Rising oil and housing prices were two of the main contributors to the strength in inflation. Given subdued consumer prices last spring, we expect that inflation will continue to trend above 2.0 per cent in the coming months.

Quick take  |  3-min read
April 21, 2021

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s inaugural budget is intended to transform the economy by favouring vaccine rollouts and economic recovery in the near term and focusing on the labour force, green technology, and education over the long-term. While good intentioned, the fiscal roadmap outlined by the Liberal government will come at a cost to Canadians.

Op-ed  |  4-min read
April 20, 2021

Canadian governments, corporate stakeholders, and advocacy organizations sought to use disclosure to accelerate women’s representation. Disclosure is a regulatory approach that requires companies to: (1) disclose the number of women on their boards and (2) disclose the efforts they have made (or not) to increase that representation.

Impact paper  |  30-min read
April 14, 2021

The labour force survey brings news of employment growth across Canada, pushing the unemployment rate to a new low since the onset of the pandemic. Notable employment gains in the retail sector and in Ontario fueled the jobs recovery in March.

Quick take  |  4-min read
April 9, 2021

Amid stricter lockdowns in Ontario and Quebec, Canada’s real GDP managed to post growth in January. With a preliminary estimate of 0.5 per cent growth for February, this suggests that first quarter growth will be stronger than expected in our most recent national forecast.

Quick take  |  4-min read
March 31, 2021

Today’s Statistics Canada release showed that retail sales fell in January, following a decline in December. This drop was almost entirely due to lower retail activity in Ontario and Quebec. In both provinces, January brought curfews, stay-at-home orders, and other restrictions on economic activity. Though many of these restrictions remained in place into February,

Quick take  |  3-min read
March 19, 2021

February’s inflation was up from its year-ago level, thanks to the rapid growth in gasoline and housing prices.As the economy gradually opens and consumer demand rebounds, consumer prices are likely to exceed their year-ago level in the coming months, leading to stronger inflation for the second quarter of 2021.

Quick take  |  2-min read
March 17, 2021

February’s Labour Force Survey brings news of some significant improvements among industries that have suffered greatly over the previous two months, notably retail trade. With the rollout of vaccines underway and a gradual easing of restrictions, this morning’s release marks the restart of the labour market after a difficult couple of months.

Quick take  |  3-min read
March 12, 2021

Real GDP posted a 2.3 per cent gain in the fourth quarter of last year, leaving overall economic activity down 5.4 per cent in 2020—by far Canada’s steepest recession in modern times. While the economy recovered over the second half of 2020, economic activity has again slowed in recent months.

Quick Take  |  4-min read
March 2, 2021

The National Shipbuilding Strategy is a long-term initiative to renew Canada’s existing fleet of combat and non-combat vessels. Halifax Shipyard is building the combat vessels. This work falls under four areas: Modernizing the Halifax Shipyard, renewing the navy’s fleet by replacing the existing Halifax Class frigates with 15 newly built Canadian Surface Combatants (CSCs), and repairing, refitting, and maintaining the existing Halifax Class vessels until they are retired.

Data briefing  |  3-min read
February 24, 2021

The agri-food sector is central to Manitoba’s economy and, by far, its largest export sector. It includes agriculture and food manufacturing. Manitoba’s agriculture goods, such as cereals and oil seeds, account for the largest share of the province’s overall agri-food exports. They are also its most globally competitive agri-food products.

Impact paper  |  45-min read
February 23, 2021

Today’s Statistics Canada release showed that retail sales fell in December, posting their largest decline since April of last year. With provincial governments implementing more stringent lockdown measures throughout the month, the results are hardly surprising. And given that restrictions have mostly remained in place since December, it is likely that retailers continued to be hit hard by the pandemic during the first two months of 2021.

Quick take  |  2-min read
February 18, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a massive toll on the global and Canadian economies. The government response has been unprecedented, with a quick rollout of fiscal and monetary policy measures that have bolstered household incomes, supported wages, and provided cheap credit to households and businesses.

Issue briefing  |  15-min read
February 18, 2021

January’s inflation inched up 1.0 per cent on a year-over-year basis, thanks to rising gasoline prices and surging housing prices. We expect that as restrictions ease and economic activity rebounds, inflation will gradually recover over the coming quarters.

Quick take  |  2-min read
February 17, 2021

January’s labour force survey is a mixed bag. It contains some sobering numbers but also signs for cautious optimism. The decline in employment was almost entirely due to the closures in Ontario and Quebec, as other provinces labour markets fared well.

Quick take  |  3-min read
February 5, 2021

Output grew in November, the economy’s seventh consecutive month of growth. While industrial production grew, lockdowns led to declines in services such as arts, entertainment and recreation. Overall, November’s modest pick-up is welcome, yet there is still a long way to go as output remained below the level recorded before the onset of the pandemic in February.

Quick take  |  3-min read
January 29, 2021

Today’s Statistics Canada release showed that retail sales rose in November and are up compared to their pre-pandemic level. Strong gains in household income—due largely to government stimulus throughout much of 2020—encouraged consumers to spend more ahead of the holiday season..

Quick take  |  3-min read
January 22, 2021

Inflation decelerated to 0.7 per cent in December. In all, price inflation was only 0.7 per cent in 2020, the smallest increase since 2009. Tightened restrictions across regions in December significantly weighed on consumer demand for transportation, thus pulling down consumer prices.

Quick take  |  2-min read
January 20, 2021

The Bank of Canada held its policy interest rate steady and announced that it will continue with its quantitative easing program. With core inflation well below its target of two per cent, and a slowdown in the economic recovery over the past few months, today’s announcement was expected.

Quick take  |  2-min read
January 20, 2021

Increasing COVID-19 case counts in the fall have begun to affect the broader economy. Manufacturing sales slowed by 0.6 per cent in November, the second consecutive decline. While only a minor decline, more restrictions through December and January should further restrict economic activity, and thus manufacturing output.

Quick take  |  3-min read
January 19, 2021

Following the release of our latest two-year economic forecast, Chief Economist Pedro Antunes speaks with the Financial Post’s Larysa Harapyn about the long road ahead to get the Canadian economy back to pre-COVID levels.

Financial Post  |  10-min listen
January 12, 2021

Rising COVID-19 cases through the late fall and into winter led to shutdowns across the country, which weighed on employment growth. In all, employment fell in December, the first decline in employment since April. With restrictions remaining in place or even being tightened into 2021, employment growth is likely to decline further in January and remain weak in the first half of the year.

Quick take  |  3-min read
January 8, 2021

Real GDP growth decelerated to 0.4 per cent in October as the second wave of the pandemic drained energy from the recovery. A notable slowdown in manufacturing contributed to this result, as well as a further decline in the accommodation and food services industry.

Quick take  |  3-min read
December 23, 2020

Today’s Statistics Canada release showed that retail sales rose 0.4 per cent in October and are up 4.5 per cent compared to their pre-pandemic level. Strong gains in household income and rock bottom interest rates have allowed retail sales to post a speedy recovery compared to most other sectors of the Canadian economy.

Quick take  |  3-min read
December 18, 2020

COVID-19 hit the Canadian tourism sector harder than any other. Its contraction in the second quarter of 2020 was six times larger than the economy’s as a whole. Tourism’s recovery depends on a widely distributed vaccine, the lifting of public health measures, and a broader economic rebound.

Online experience  |  4-min read
December 16, 2020

The economic crisis caused by the pandemic will leave long-lasting scars for many Canadian industries and take a heavy toll on the finances of governments at all levels. The COVID-19 pandemic has already taken a massive toll on the Canadian and global economies.

Op-ed  |  4-min read
December 16, 2020

The Canadian Beverage Association is trying to help Canadians consume fewer calories from non-alcoholic/non-dairy liquid refreshment beverages (LRBs). The association hopes to reduce the average number of LRB calories each person consumes. Since 2014, the average number of calories Canadians consume from LRBs in a day has fallen.

Online experience  |  8-min read
December 11, 2020

This month’s labour market data shows that the jobs recovery continues to lose steam. While the overall number of employed Canadians grew in November, growth this month is the weakest since the beginning of the recovery in May.

Quick take  |  3-min read
December 7, 2020

Canada needs to diversify its trading partners. The unpredictable trade policies of our southern neighbour over the past few years and the challenges caused by COVID-19 have made this clear. Over 70 per cent of Canadian goods and services exports are destined for the United States. And while this reliance will not wane any time soon, Canada should continue to gradually broaden its reach and diversify into other markets. Japan offers many opportunities.

Impact paper  |  45-min read
December 7, 2020

Real GDP grew in September. These modest figures, as well as a preliminary estimate growth for October, show that escalating cases of COVID-19 and stricter public health measures have weighed heavily on Canada’s economic recovery.

Quick take  |  4-min read
December 1, 2020

Following the release of our latest two-year economic forecast, Chief Economist Pedro Antunes speaks with the Financial Post’s Larysa Harapyn about the long road ahead to get the Canadian economy back to pre-COVID levels.

Financial Post  |  10-min listen
January 12, 2021

Our chief economist Pedro Antunes and Sahir Khan of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy interview on CBC News Network ahead of the 2020 Federal Fiscal Update. They want to get a sense of how forward-looking the update will be.

Power & Politics  |  9-min listen
November 27, 2020

Today’s Statistics Canada release showed that retail sales rose in September. Strong gains in household income—due largely to government stimulus during the pandemic—and historically low interest rates have been encouraging sales of big-ticket items.

Quick take  |  2-min read
November 20, 2020

Housing markets have always mirrored social trends in Canada. The automobile, for example, helped fuel suburban growth in the mid-20th century. A home-ownership tsunami brought on by baby boomers led to a decline in the construction of new rental units in the 1990s. And in the past 20 years, the housing story has been about the growth of our cities, at the cost of small towns and rural communities.

Op-ed  |  5-min read
November 19, 2020

Inflation inched up in October thanks to increases in food and shelter prices. While the demand for clothing, travel and transportation remained suppressed, consumer prices continued to rise because of a pick-up in housing demand and limited supply of product amid the pandemic.

Quick take  |  2-min read
November 18, 2020

Pedro Antunes, joins BNN Bloomberg to gives his view of how the economy has performed during the pandemic and what measures he sees being necessary on the road to recovery.

BNN Bloomberg  |  11-min listen
November 16, 2020

With September numbers in, manufacturing sales rebounded in the third quarter, following the sharp decline in the second quarter of the year. Growth was widespread across industries and regions. Higher prices for lumber, coupled with sharp increases in exports of forestry products and building and packaging materials, supported growth in the wood industry while higher sales of pharmaceuticals and medicine amid the pandemic led to higher sales in chemical manufacturing.

Quick take  |  2-min read
November 16, 2020

Physicians provide the invaluable and essential service of delivering health care to Canadians. While health care is often considered in terms of costs to governments and taxpayers, it also generates many economic benefits at the national, provincial/territorial, and community levels.

Issue briefing  |  45-min read
November 10, 2020

In another sign of the resilience of Canada’s recovery, employment rose in October. With shutdowns enacted in some provinces and cases rising in nearly all, this month’s reading should be embraced with some enthusiasm. However, the enthusiasm should be tempered as employment could weaken in November because COVID-19 cases remain high in many provinces.

Quick take  |  2-min read
November 6, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted product shipments and forced many Canadian businesses to adjust their supply chains. For some, this has involved sourcing more inputs from local suppliers. The current economic hardship has also caused a surge of solidarity from Canadians who are supporting businesses by buying locally. But a strategy focused on buying local is not the solution Canada’s economy needs.

Op-ed  |  3-min read
November 4, 2020

Although the precise economic and financial toll of COVID-19 on the economy remains uncertain and depends on how long the crisis lasts, Canada’s health care system is already experiencing significant change and will likely continue to do so over the longer term.

Impact paper  |  55-min read
October 30, 2020

In light of a dim outlook, the Bank of Canada unsurprisingly kept its policy interest rate on hold today, while adjusting its quantitative easing program. The central bank reiterated that the economy is not close to recovering, and that core inflation remains below its 2 per cent target.

Quick take  |  2-min read
October 28, 2020

Forecasters surveyed by The Conference Board of Canada in the autumn have a slightly more optimistic view of the economy’s short-term prospects than they did in summer. Still, the situation remains bleak. Based on responses to the survey, the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting shutdown of the economy in March and April will result in a decline in real GDP this year.

Online experience  |  2-min read
October 26, 2020

Inflation remained muted in September—prices for gasoline and tourism-related services continue to be the main source of downward pressure. Core inflation held steady, which is below the Bank of Canada’s target. While some consumer products have faced upward price pressure, we expect overall inflation to remain at or below the central bank’s target until mid-next year.

Quick take  |  2-min read
October 21, 2020

With the onset of COVID-19, the already-struggling Canadian manufacturing sector suffered significant declines in March and April. Since then, manufacturing sales have strived toward recovery. However, the latest August decline signals that recovery will have to wait.

Quick take  |  1-min read
October 16, 2020

National employment levels continued their recovery at a stronger pace in September. Employment remained lower than pre-pandemic February in all provinces. Canada has now recovered approximately 2.3 million of the 3.0 million jobs lost during the pandemic.

Quick take  |  2-min read
October 9, 2020

Following a jump in June, real GDP grew in July. This slower pace of recovery is in line with estimates from The Conference Board of Canada’s latest national forecast. While a continued recovery back to pre-pandemic levels of output is promising, real GDP still lies below its February level. With the number of new COVID-19 cases climbing in many provinces, further economic recovery is expected to continue at a much more moderate pace.

Quick take  |  3-min read
September 30, 2020

In a sparsely attended ceremony, Governor General Julie Payette delivered a speech detailing the government’s direction over their remaining mandate. The Speech highlighted a number of programs, targets and measures that address many important issues and challenges facing Canada and Canadians.

Quick take  |  5-min read
September 24, 2020

Canada is fortunate: It has a vast, well-connected network of trails that weave through built and natural environments alike. Trails provide character and access to cities, boost tourism, contribute to mental and physical health, and help relieve stress on the natural ecosystem.

Online experience  |  2-min read
September 21, 2020

In an era of lightning-fast technological change, it’s more important than ever that Canadian leaders understand how the adoption of new technologies will impact Canada’s labour force.

Online experience | 4-min read
May 28, 2020
Partner—Future Skills Centre