WireNorth topic hub
Bank of Canada rate decisions, Canadian inflation, the loonie, and cross-border policy divergence.
A surprisingly strong US labor market in May gives the Federal Reserve more reason to keep interest rates higher for longer, directly impacting cross-border borrowing costs.
Read analysis
Markets
May 29, 2026
Markets
2026-05-28
Markets
May 23, 2026
Markets
May 22, 2026
A surprisingly strong US labor market in May gives the Federal Reserve more reason to keep interest rates higher for longer, directly impacting cross-border borrowing costs.
Read analysisWith the overnight rate firm at 2.25%, the Canadian dollar has stabilized against the greenback, capping imported goods inflation but keeping pressure on cross-border shoppers.
Read analysisAverage weekly earnings for Canadian employees reached $1,333 in March, marking a 3.5% year-over-year increase. However, new Statistics Canada data also indicates job vacancies are holding steady while payroll employment declines, pointing to an increasingly selective hiring environment.
Read analysisA new Bank of Canada analysis found that 2025 counter-tariffs pushed prices on affected U.S. goods about 6% above comparable non-tariffed items, and visible tariff labels helped retailers pass through more of the cost. For households, the lesson is that trade fights can show up on shelves quickly, but some of that pressure can also unwind when tariffs end.
Read analysisStatistics Canada says retail sales rose 0.9% in March and its early read points to another gain in April. But much of the March increase came from gasoline prices, while core sales and volumes moved lower.
Read analysis
Container shipping costs are climbing rapidly as geopolitical instability forces longer routes and tighter capacity, threatening to pass new inflationary pressures onto consumers.
Read analysis
A new CMHC mortgage-consumer survey says 35% of borrowers who renewed felt more financial pressure from interest-rate changes, with monthly payments rising by an average of $375. The practical move now is to review renewal offers early, shop rates and make sure the household budget can handle the reset.
Read analysisThe Canadian dollar's slide against the greenback is set to test the pricing power of domestic retailers and equipment importers heading into the third quarter.
Read analysis
Statistics Canada said annual inflation rose to 2.8% in April, driven by gasoline. For households, the bigger question is whether that shock stays narrow enough for the Bank of Canada to keep rates steady into summer.
Read analysis
With the Bank of Canada overnight rate paused at 2.25% and major banks holding conventional 5-year mortgages flat at 6.09%, households hoping for immediate margin relief are facing a prolonged plateau in debt servicing costs.
Read analysis
With the conventional five-year mortgage rate frozen at 6.09 percent, the mandatory 200-basis-point OSFI stress test forces new borrowers to qualify at a punishing 8.09 percent. This structural ceiling permanently locks a median household out of an estimated $84,000 in previously accessible capital, triggering a severe contraction in residential transaction velocity.
Read analysis
The Bank of Canada can stay patient only if the energy shock stays narrow. A same-day AI speech shows why the longer-term inflation story is more complicated.
Read analysis
Hot U.S. inflation data and Canada's trade rebound point to the same problem: North America can absorb an oil shock, but not if firms start treating it as normal.
Read analysis
The latest policy changes from the Fed ripple through North American markets, impacting everything from tech stocks to Canadian real estate investments.
Read analysis
Promotional rates across CDIC-insured banks and credit unions span a wider gap than at any point in the past decade. A side-by-side look at the accounts worth holding.
Read analysis
Learn how to build a diversified, low-cost investment portfolio that requires minimal maintenance in the 2026 market environment.
Read analysis
A deep dive into how the reversal of ZIRP is fundamentally restructuring corporate debt, retail banking, and fixed-income portfolios across North America in 2026.
Read analysis
Are you really saving money by leaving the Big Five? We analyze the true cost of banking, fee structures, and lending rates in 2026.
Read analysis
The 4% rule was born in a different era. We rethink the math of Financial Independence for the modern 2026 economy.
Read analysis
Why digital banks are consistently outperforming traditional institutions on high-yield savings, and where to park your cash today.
Read analysis
With fluctuating central bank rates, the mortgage stress test is acting as a massive barrier for first-time buyers in 2026.
Read analysis
Analyzing the recovery and future prospects of office spaces in two of North America's biggest financial hubs in 2026.
Read analysis
With interest rates fluctuating, we explore whether Canadian homeowners should opt for fixed or variable rates in the 2026 market.
Read analysis