Canada's retail sales flatlined in the first quarter of 2024
BNN Bloomberg
Canadian consumers haven’t tightened their belts this much in nearly a year, and there are no signs of spending growth since the start of 2024.
Receipts for retailers were unchanged in March, according to an advance estimate from Statistics Canada released Wednesday. That followed a 0.1 per cent drop in February, missing expectations for a 0.1 per cent gain in a Bloomberg survey.
Taken together with the 0.3 per cent plunge in January sales, the figures point to a flat reading in the first three months of the year, the weakest pace since the second quarter of 2023.
After the release, yields on two-year Canadian government bonds fell about three basis points to 4.25 per cent, while the loonie weakened about 0.3 per cent to $1.372 per U.S. dollar as of 9:08 a.m. Ottawa time.
Gold seen as overbought as Iran tensions ease, with falling oil prices lifting stocks and shifting investor sentiment toward risk assets.
Stock markets in Canada and the U.S. rallied after President Donald Trump said the United States has talked with Iran about a possible end to the war.
A cautious relief swept through financial markets Monday after President Donald Trump said the United States has talked with Iran about a possible end to their war.
A pipeline leak in Sarnia, Ont., has been located more than a week after a sheen reportedly turned up on the St. Clair River.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said the U.S. was talking with a “respected” Iranian leader and claimed the Islamic Republic was eager for a deal to end the war. He also extended a deadline for Iran to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its power plants, saying it has an additional five days.
Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate built by Warren Buffett, is buying a 2.49 per cent stake in Japanese insurer Tokio Marine Holdings for about US$1.8 billion as part of a new strategic partnership, deepening its financial commitment to Japan.
Relief is ripping through financial markets after U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States has talked with Iran about a possible end to their war, despite Iran’s denials.
Asset management giant BlackRock’s CEO Larry Fink urged clients to stay invested despite ongoing market volatility, and highlighted that artificial intelligence is reshaping investment strategies and the broader economy.
Jurors wade through daunting evidence in high-stakes Meta trial about social media risks to children
A stream of testimony and evidence has been presented in a New Mexico case exploring what Meta knew about the effects of its platforms on children.
Global oil prices will continue to rise as the war in the Middle East continues and the Strait of Hormuz remains inaccessible, according to an energy expert.
Canada’s federally backed farm lender is offering financial aid to farmers, agricultural businesses and food companies hit by the spike in fertilizer and energy prices, it said on Friday.
Jay Allen is a fan of U.S. President Donald Trump, and voted for him on the belief that the Republican would cut taxes and trim regulations, helping his manufacturing business in northeast Arkansas.