Archive for August, 2009
Inflation rate is lowest in 56 years – overall consumer price increase is a healthy 1.8%
Getty Images $(‘#lead-photo’).hover(function() { $(‘#lead-caption’).slideDown(300); }, function() { $(‘#lead-caption’).slideUp(300); }); Canada’s annual inflation rate slid to the lowest level in 56 years last month, dropping more than expected for the second straight month to set overall prices 0.9 per cent lower than last year, Statistics Canada reported Wednesday. The fall on a month-to-month basis was [...]
Full StoryHarmonized sales levy is the lesser of tax evils
It isn’t often that political leaders take policy actions they know will be highly unpopular. The decisions by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell to harmonize the provincial sales tax with the federal goods and services tax are rare shows of political courage. The unpopularity of harmonized sales tax (HST) arises almost [...]
Full StoryCanadian manufacturing sales show turnaround
Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales rose 1.9 per cent to $39.7-billion in June, partially reversing a 4.9-per-cent decline posted in May. The agency attributes the increase to strong sales in the aerospace industry and a rise in the price of petroleum and coal products. Constant dollar manufacturing sales rose 1.1 per cent in June, indicating [...]
Full StoryCanada housing sales hit record in July
Canadian real estate sales had a record July. July housing sales across the country were the best on record for the month and the largest year-over year increase in two years, the Canadian Real Estate Association said. The Ottawa-based group, which represents about 100 boards across the country, said there were 50,270 units sold via [...]
Full StoryConsumers boost confidence in economy
Whether or not Canada is truly out of the woods when it comes to the recession remains up for debate, but more and more Canadians are choosing to think positively about the economy, a new survey finds. The survey, conducted by TNS Canadian Facts, shows their Consumer Confidence Index at 99.2, up 6% from July, [...]
Full StoryFive signs a housing recovery is on the way
Larry MacDougal $(‘#lead-photo’).hover(function() { $(‘#lead-caption’).slideDown(300); }, function() { $(‘#lead-caption’).slideUp(300); }); 1) Housing starts are expected to rise While the seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts decreased to 132,000 units in July from 137,000 units in June, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says starts statistics – which mark the actual, shovel-in-the-ground beginning of construction – [...]
Full StoryCanada plays catch-up in race for trade with China
AFP/Getty Images $(‘#lead-photo’).hover(function() { $(‘#lead-caption’).slideDown(300); }, function() { $(‘#lead-caption’).slideUp(300); }); When the world’s biggest import market crashed last year and economists advised Canadian exporters to chase growth in emerging markets, Winnipeg plastics manufacturer Craig McIntosh did just the opposite: He hired more salespeople and redoubled his efforts south of the border. Half of Acrylon Plastics’ [...]
Full StoryFinally – The Canadian Economy is on the Mend
The Canadian economy is likely on the mend after a bad tumble in May, analysts said Friday after new data showed output shrank more than expected. Statistics Canada reported Friday the gross domestic product fell 0.5 per cent in May, pulled down by a battered manufacturing sector and weak demand for energy exports. It marked [...]
Full StoryFlaherty, Carney to promote banks in China
Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney will travel to China next week to promote the country’s financial industry and help win business for its banks. Mr. Flaherty will also be joined by the head of the country’s regulator of financial services, Julie Dickson, and financial industry executives, the Finance [...]
Full StoryIf this is a recovery, then tech is a good place to be
A Research In Motion BlackBerry Storm is pictured in New York. LUCAS JACKSON/REUTERS $(‘#lead-photo’).hover(function() { $(‘#lead-caption’).slideDown(300); }, function() { $(‘#lead-caption’).slideUp(300); }); When it comes to recovery on the markets, few areas have posted as robust a rebound as the technology sector. Which leads to a rather obvious question: Is it too late for investors to [...]
Full Story
Recent Comments