Category Archives: Economy

Loonie’s letdown for real

Don’t let the last of the Canadian-dollar bulls dissuade you—the loonie’s value is falling and it’s not finished yet. But don’t worry. A lighter dollar doesn’t necessarily mean a lighter order book
By Ian McGugan
 April 14th, 2013

The beaver is cute and the maple leaf packs a certain whole-earth appeal but, when it comes to national symbols, it’s the loonie that provides the highest-profile gauge of how our national economy is faring. Over the past decade the … Continue reading →

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Drill-o-nomics

Want a real-world read on the commodity markets? Try selling a drill rig
By Paul Brent
 March 1st, 2013

It’s blue, big as a CEO’s office and can be helicoptered or dragged through the woods to its next job. It’s also proving to be very, very hard to get rid of. The “it” in question is a $300,000 drilling … Continue reading →

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Whither the commodity super-cycle?

For years, surging demand and higher prices for all kinds of commodities have been a boon for resource companies and the economy. Now they’ve mostly flattened out. Is the party over? Or simply on hold?
By Ian McGugan
 February 25th, 2013

Iron ore, usually a sedate citizen of the commodity world, has acted like a giddy teenager in recent months. From a low of US$86 a tonne in September, the metal soared above US$158 by January as a wave of Asian … Continue reading →

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Saving for a sunny day

Mark Carney says Canadian companies are hoarding cash and holding back recovery. Executives say they’re not. The only point on which most agree: there are too many reasons to put off spending and not enough to put money in play
By Ian McGugan
 January 7th, 2013

Having a bit of cash on hand used to be considered a virtue. As the clock winds down on 2012, it’s coming to be regarded as a borderline crime. Mark Carney gave voice to the sentiment back in late August, … Continue reading →

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Going to extremes

With interest rates near zero, central banks are looking at new, more exotic ways to boost growth. Suggestions: a long-term rate freeze, setting targets for nominal GDP rather than inflation, or—yes—putting a tax on savings
By Ian McGugan
 September 25th, 2012

Happy birthday, financial crisis. Five years ago, in August 2007, BNP Paribas announced that because of losses related to U.S. housing loans, it was freezing three investment funds that at their peak had been worth more than $2 billion. So, … Continue reading →

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Hire your elders

As Canada’s population ages, we’re counting on more retired seniors buying more stuff to keep our economy moving. A better strategy: enable those seniors to work longer instead
By Ian McGugan
 June 18th, 2012

When Tom Coughlin coached the New York Giants to a victory in the Super Bowl this past February, he also scored a victory for a much bigger team: the greying army of North American baby boomers that have hit or … Continue reading →

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Two steps forward

From jobs to GDP growth, the long-awaited U.S. economic rebound is underway. But don’t mistake these nascent positive trends for anything close to full recovery. That will be years in the making
By Ian McGugan
 March 16th, 2012

CANADIAN BUSINESSES have been disappointed for so long in the U.S. economy that it’s only natural to look with a splenetic eye at the most recent data streaming over the border. Jobs growth has jumped beyond modest expectations, the stock market … Continue reading →

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We’ll always have China…right?

Despite the recent obsession with Europe’s financial crises and continued sluggishness in the U.S., there’s at least one more big worry out there—China. If its slowdown turns serious, the damage here will be extensive
By Ian McGugan
 December 20th, 2011

China’s fastest growing exports are anxiety and skepticism. After years of seeing its collective wealth race ahead at a breakneck clip, the world’s most populous economy is hitting some speed bumps—and raising concerns about how severe its slowdown will be. … Continue reading →

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Don’t look down

When is the economy like an airplane? When it’s flying at stall speed. That’s Canada and the U.S. now. When planes stall, they can crash. If our economies follow suit, how should companies react?
By Ian McGugan
 October 7th, 2011

When it comes to economics, few things are more treacherous than a bad metaphor. Take, for instance, the notion that prevailed well into the summer— and prevails still in some quarters—that business these days is just in a bit of … Continue reading →

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The prices are all right

There may be lots of things to worry about when it comes to the economic outlook—but inflation isn’t one of them
By Ian McGugan
 June 25th, 2011

Statistics Canada shook things up when it reported that consumer prices surged 3.3% in the 12-month period ending March 31. It was the largest year-over-year increase in inflation since September 2008. Meanwhile, oil prices have soared, food costs are up … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy

Second-quarter smackdown

Will it be full recovery or relapse? The next three months could tell the story, with the release of some key economic data and updates on critical indicators to show the way
By Ian McGugan
 March 25th, 2011

So the patient is off life support and taking regular exercise. At times he can look nearly frisky. But you have to wonder about the repeated transfusions he’s receiving, not to mention the special diet. Is it possible that he’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy