US Economics Weekly Fed still to decide on taper timeline The Fed now looks likely to begin tapering its asset purchases later this year, but the precise timing could depend on the extent of any economic drag from the continued rapid spread of the Delta... 20th August 2021 · 6 mins read
Canada Economics Weekly Trudeau risks a fourth-wave election Even if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to trigger an election during the emerging fourth wave of the pandemic does not backfire, we doubt a majority win for the Liberals on September 20 th... 20th August 2021 · 3 mins read
Canada Data Response Retail Sales (Jun.) The re-opening of non-essential stores drove a 4.2% m/m rise in retail sales in June. While the preliminary estimate for July suggests retail sales dropped back again, that was most likely because... 20th August 2021 · 3 mins read
Energy Watch Oil prices would still fall even if OPEC expands In this Energy Watch, we discuss the future of OPEC and its role in the oil market. While we suspect that its membership may expand, we think that its ability to influence oil prices will fall over... 19th August 2021 · 7 mins read
Canada Data Response Teranet House Prices (Jul.) The Teranet measure of house price inflation accelerated to a 32-year high in July and is on track to pick up further in August. That should mark the peak but, with the sales-to-new listing ratio... 19th August 2021 · 2 mins read
US Housing End of eviction ban won’t stop recovery in rents The eviction ban has been extended to early October, but we doubt it will be renewed again. Given the strength of the labour market, significant government support and robust rental demand, the... 19th August 2021 · 3 mins read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report While crude stocks fell again last week, gasoline inventories rose a little and there was a further pullback in implied gasoline demand. Given the ongoing rise in virus infections and some re... 18th August 2021 · 2 mins read
Asset Allocation Update On the relative valuations of US housing and equities Despite growing talk of another bubble in the US housing market, its valuation remains far less stretched than that of the US stock market and is not alarming in our view given the prospects for... 18th August 2021 · 4 mins read
US Commercial Property Chart Pack Office metro-level divergence to persist After a period of strong economic growth in H1 2021, with high inflation squeezing incomes and the spread of the Delta variant, the outlook for H2 is less positive. That said, we don’t expect this to... 18th August 2021 · 12 mins read
US Chart Pack Growth slowing even before potential Delta drag The 1.1% m/m fall in retail sales last month illustrates the worsening drag from the sharp slowdown in real income growth, as earlier fiscal support fades and surging prices erode purchasing power... 18th August 2021 · 9 mins read
US Housing Market Data Response Housing Starts (Jul.) Single-family starts edged back in July, although they but remain elevated compared to pre-COVID levels. Shortages in lots, labour and materials are weighing on builder confidence and housing starts... 18th August 2021 · 2 mins read
Canada Data Response Consumer Prices (Jul.) Inflation jumped to 3.7% in July as the coronavirus restrictions were eased and global supply chain issues pushed up goods prices. As the Bank of Canada’s preferred measure of core inflation was... 18th August 2021 · 2 mins read
US Economics Retail Sales & Industrial Production (Jul.) The 1.1% m/m fall in retail sales in July suggests that the hit to real incomes from surging prices, along with growing concerns about the Delta coronavirus variant, is starting to take its toll. The... 17th August 2021 · 2 mins read
Canada Data Response Manufacturing Sales (Jun.) Manufacturing sales started to rebound in June but, with the global semiconductor shortage set to ease only gradually, it is likely to be a slow recovery for manufacturing sales volumes. 16th August 2021 · 2 mins read
US Commercial Property Data Response Commercial Property Lending (Jul.) Outstanding real estate debt growth accelerated in July, supported by increases in residential, multifamily and non-farm commercial real estate debt. And with demand for loans growing on the back of... 13th August 2021 · 2 mins read
Canada Economics Bank hints at benefits of new policy framework A new paper from the Bank of Canada outlines some additional economic benefits of a new monetary policy framework, which could be a sign that there is a greater chance of the Bank adopting average... 13th August 2021 · 8 mins read