Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy.

Canada’s economy grew 1% in the third quarter from higher government, household spending

The Canadian economy grew at an annualized rate of one per cent in the third quarter, boosted by higher household and government spending, Statistics Canada said on Friday. The rate was in line with economists’ expectations but below the Bank of Canada’s quarterly projection of 1.5 per cent.

GDP per capita falls for sixth straight quarter, economists split on rate cut size

The Canadian economy shrank on a per-person basis for a sixth consecutive quarter, extending an all-too-familiar trend of high interest rates stifling business investment and constraining growth. Economists reacting to the latest GDP figures continue to be divided on whether the Bank of Canada will cut its key interest rate by a quarter or half a percentage point at its meeting next month.

Retail Council of Canada urges Federal Government to act immediately on Canada Post Strike

Retail Council of Canada (RCC) is urging the federal government to take immediate action to end the ongoing Canada Post strike.

Cybersecurity is foundational to Canada’s economic and national security

Highlights from the Canadian Chambers Cyber. Right. Now. Council’s In-Person Meeting with the Government of Canada.

Report finds increased competition in Canada’s commercial insurance market

New data released by the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) revealed that the competitiveness of Canada’s commercial insurance market has significantly improved in recent years. This development follows a period of limited options and high premiums during the industry’s hard market between 2020 and 2023, the report noted.

Jobless rate reaches 6.8% in November, highest since 2017 outside of pandemic

Canada’s unemployment rate jumped to 6.8 per cent last month as more people looked for work in a weak job market, shifting expectations toward a jumbo interest rate cut next week. Statistics Canada’s November labour force survey says the jobless rate last month reached the highest since January 2017, outside of the COVID-19 pandemic. The unemployment rate was 6.5 per cent in October.

Home prices expected to rise in all markets next year

Real estate brokerage firm Royal LePage expects home prices to increase six per cent annually by the end of 2025, according to its annual market survey forecast released Wednesday, with prices set to climb across all major markets as more buyers come off the sidelines amid lower interest rates.

Get in touch

Contact us if you have any questions or want to discuss the next steps for your business.