Economy

Canadians’ view on economy, personal finances sinks

Published

10 months ago

November 8, 2023

Canadians’ outlook on the economy darkened in October as decades-high interest rates continue to sap consumer spending, the housing market and growth.

Two thirds of participants in the latest Maru Public Opinion survey said they do not believe the economy will improve over the next two months, an increase of two percentage points from the month before.

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Signs have been building in recent weeks that Canada’s economy is stalling. Gross domestic product was flat in August, and a similar estimate for September has economists predicting that the country is already in a technical recession or two straight quarters of GDP contraction. A weaker jobs report for September added to evidence of a fading economy.

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Canadians are also more negative about their personal finances.

The Maru’s Household Outlook Index (MHOI) fell further into pessimistic territory to 83 from 84 the month before — the lowest reading since its inception in April, 2021. Anything below 100 on the index is negative and anything above indicates optimism.

Only 10 per cent of people surveyed said their financial position has improved and almost four in 10 people said they rely on government benefits to make ends meet. The latter is the highest level since the depths of the pandemic in July, 2020, said Maru.

Fewer Canadians said they intended to buy a home and more said they were considering moving to a smaller home. The number of people who said they would invest in financial markets fell to 28 per cent from 31 per cent in the previous survey.

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Economy

S&P/TSX composite gains almost 100 points, U.S. stock markets also higher

Published

2 days ago

September 13, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Strength in the base metal and technology sectors helped Canada’s main stock index gain almost 100 points on Friday, while U.S. stock markets also climbed higher.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 93.51 points at 23,568.65.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 297.01 points at 41,393.78. The S&P 500 index was up 30.26 points at 5,626.02, while the Nasdaq composite was up 114.30 points at 17,683.98.

The Canadian dollar traded for 73.61 cents US compared with 73.58 cents US on Thursday.

The October crude oil contract was down 32 cents at US$68.65 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was down five cents at US$2.31 per mmBTU.

The December gold contract was up US$30.10 at US$2,610.70 an ounce and the December copper contract was up four cents US$4.24 a pound.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD)

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Economy

Statistics Canada reports wholesale sales higher in July

Published

2 days ago

September 13, 2024

Anne Joseph

OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says wholesale sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain, rose 0.4 per cent to $82.7 billion in July.

The increase came as sales in the miscellaneous subsector gained three per cent to reach $10.5 billion in July, helped by strength in the agriculture supplies industry group, which rose 9.2 per cent.

The food, beverage and tobacco subsector added 1.7 per cent to total $15 billion in July.

The personal and household goods subsector fell 2.5 per cent to $12.1 billion.

In volume terms, overall wholesale sales rose 0.5 per cent in July.

Statistics Canada started including oilseed and grain as well as the petroleum and petroleum products subsector as part of wholesale trade last year, but is excluding the data from monthly analysis until there is enough historical data.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

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Economy

S&P/TSX composite up more than 150 points, U.S. stock markets mixed

Published

3 days ago

September 12, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 150 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in the base metal and energy sectors, while U.S. stock markets were mixed.

The S&P/TSX composite index was up 172.18 points at 23,383.35.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 34.99 points at 40,826.72. The S&P 500 index was up 10.56 points at 5,564.69, while the Nasdaq composite was up 74.84 points at 17,470.37.

The Canadian dollar traded for 73.55 cents US compared with 73.59 cents US on Wednesday.

The October crude oil contract was up $2.00 at US$69.31 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up five cents at US$2.32 per mmBTU.

The December gold contract was up US$40.00 at US$2,582.40 an ounce and the December copper contract was up six cents at US$4.20 a pound.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD)

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