March Outlook: Navigating the Turbulence

March 27, 2025 10:30 AM UTC

All chapters of the March Outlook are now available and simply click the link below. 

Car Tariffs Then Lenient Reciprocal Tariffs?

March 27, 2025 8:59 AM UTC

   The 25% tariffs on cars underlines that tariffs are not just about getting better trade deals, but in Trump’s view raising (tax) revenue and trying to shift production back to the U.S. Combined with other tariffs being implemented, plus policy uncertainty, we see a moderate overall hit from t

Bank of Canada Minutes from March 12 - Debate over the 25bps easing, agreement to proceed carefully

March 26, 2025 6:19 PM UTC

The Bank of Canada has released minutes from its March 12 meeting, and these show some debate about the meeting’s decision to ease by 25bps to 2.75% and agreement to proceed carefully with further changes to policy. A lot can happen before the BoC next meets on April 16, but these minutes suggest

Outlook Overview: Navigating the Turbulence

March 26, 2025 9:30 AM UTC

·       More tariffs will arrive from the U.S. from April with product (car, pharma, semiconductors and lumber) and reciprocal tariffs. President Trump has a 3-part approach to tariffs to raise (tax) revenue; bring production back to the U.S. and get fairer trade deals.  This means some of t

Trump Product and Reciprocal Tariffs

March 21, 2025 9:00 AM UTC

It appears that we will get bad news from April 2 on extra tariffs before any good news.  Firstly, the announcement effect of tariffs for many countries and extra products will hurt U.S. business and consumer sentiment.  Secondly, part of the reason for tariffs is extra tax revenue and to try to s

Canada: BoC's Macklem - Policy to be less forward looking

March 20, 2025 5:12 PM UTC

BoC Governor Macklem sees the Canadian economy as facing new uncertainty just after a soft landing had been achieved.

Canada February CPI - Acceleration clearer as sales tax holiday ends

March 18, 2025 12:51 PM UTC

February Canadian CPI at 2.6% yr/yr from 1.9% in January is significantly stronger than expected, with the rise inflated by the mid-February expiry of a sales tax holiday that started in mid-December. This will lift March data further. The Bank of Canada’s core rates are also stronger, suggesting

Bank of Canada - With risks on both sides, timing matters

March 12, 2025 3:47 PM UTC

The Bank of Canada eased as expected by 25bps to 2.75%, a level it sees as neutral. Given massive uncertainty clear forward guidance is impossible but they made no attempt to hide the gravity of the problem, Governor Tiff Macklem stating Canada is facing a new crisis from which the economic impact c

Canada: BoC's Macklem - Facing new crisis, impact could be severe

March 12, 2025 2:06 PM UTC

BoC Governor Macklem will weigh the impact of a weaker economy and higher prices, though today's easing shows the immediate focus is on the economy.

Trump and Dollar Policies

March 10, 2025 6:04 AM UTC

   The Trump administration could decide to more broadly talk the USD down or less likely try to reach a cooperative Mar A Lago accord with big DM and EM countries. A more cohesive alternative is a forced currency deal for countries to appreciate their currencies to avoid more tariffs and withdraw

U.S.-Canada trade, Lutnick and Trump

March 6, 2025 4:12 PM UTC

Commerce Secretary Lutnick states Trump is likely to defer tariffs on all USMCA goods which he believes is more than half of the total with Canada and Mexico. Canada however says retaliation will stay until all US tariffs are removed. We are looking at reducing rather than removing the damage.

Bank of Canada Preview for March 12: Tariff risks justify a further 25bps easing

March 5, 2025 5:51 PM UTC

The Bank of Canada meets on March 12, and while the tariff picture is still anything but clear, we expect a 25bps easing to 2.75%. The economic damage done by the ongoing tension is already likely to be significant, and may become seriously so. Inflationary risks have increased, and the Canadian eco

Trump Latest Thinking

March 5, 2025 11:07 AM UTC

Bottom line: President Donald Trump signaled that he is committed to tariffs to raise revenue; bring production back to the U.S. and get fairer trade relations.  This three part approach will likely shape implementation of further product and reciprocal tariffs from April.  However, reports sugges

Trump Tariffs: Bad for The U.S. Worse For Canada

March 4, 2025 3:48 PM UTC

When Trump announced 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico in February, we put up a piece outlining the likely economic consequences, which became dated by the end of the day as Mexico and Canada won a one month delay in return for some concessions at the border. We are now recycling that story, with som

Trump Tariffs and U.S. Business and Consumer Sentiment

March 3, 2025 9:02 AM UTC

 •    Mexico and Canada are trying to frantically find solutions to delay across the board tariffs again, though the U.S. is hinting that the rate could be less than 25%.  China extra 10% tariff remains likely, as the U.S. increases trade pressure on China.  More tariffs also remain highly

Preview: Due February 28 - Canada Q4/December GDP - A solid quarter outside weaker inventories

February 27, 2025 4:10 PM UTC

We expect Q4 Canadian GDP to rise by 1.7% annualized, marginally below a 1.8% estimate made with the Bank of Canada’s January Monetary Policy Report but with positive details outside inventories. We expect a 0.1% increase in December GDP, slightly below a 0.2% estimate made with November’s data.

Canada: BoC's Macklem - Outlines grim scenario for Canada if tariffs are imposed

February 21, 2025 7:43 PM UTC

BoC Governor Macklem sees limited scope for the BoC to undo the economic damage from tariffs, but would seek to keep price gains as one-time.

Reciprocal Tariffs and Reducing Bilateral Trade Imbalances

February 17, 2025 10:28 AM UTC

·       President Trump’s executive order on reciprocal tariffs has not produced much market reaction, both as the proposals will not be delivered to the president until April 1 and the process of Commerce/U.S. Treasury and Homeland Security input is seen reducing the odds of penal tariffs.

Bank of Canada Minutes Back 25bps Easing, Less Clear on Potential Tariff Implications

February 12, 2025 7:09 PM UTC

The Bank of Canada has released minutes from its January 29 meeting, which show no signs that the decision to ease by 25bps saw much debate. Uncertainty due to tariff risks was seen as supporting the decision. However, should a trade war with the US be seen, the minutes show a more balanced view, co

Trump’s Tariffs: Steel Then Reciprocal and Then Cars

February 11, 2025 1:23 PM UTC

 The 25% Steel and Aluminum tariff could have small to modest adverse inflation and GDP growth impacts on the U.S., but the prospect of reciprocal and more product and country tariffs create trade policy uncertainty/supply chain disruption and paperwork problems.  This could amplify the impact of

Fixing The U.S. Trade Deficit

February 6, 2025 2:30 PM UTC

  New U.S. trade deals will likely make slow progress in reducing bilateral trade deficits as the underlying drivers behind the U.S. trade deficit are macro forces.  While the U.S. economy outperforms other major trading partners; the value of the USD remains overvalued and as long as tariffs are

December sees large U.S. trade deficit while Canada's balance moves into surplus

February 5, 2025 2:01 PM UTC

December’s US trade deficit of $98.4bn from $78.9bn in November is even wider than expected and the widest since March 2022. Exports fell by 2.6% after a 2.7% November increase while imports rose by 3.5% for a second straight month.

Trump Tariffs, or Not: Trying to Make Sense of a Policy Farce

February 3, 2025 11:46 PM UTC

So, after a weekend and a day of drama we are back to where we were on Friday morning. Forecast updates made on the imposition of tariffs will not be thrown in the trash can, but now will be held as an alternative should Trump decide to go ahead on March 1 after postponing them from February 1 (whic

Trump Tariffs: Bad for The U.S., to Canada and to Mexico

February 3, 2025 6:34 PM UTC

In announcing 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, as well as additional 10% tariffs on China, Trump exceeded the expectations of many, including ourselves. The situation is fluid with Mexico (but not yet Canada) receiving a one-month delay, but the risks of a lasting trade war need to be seriously con

Canada November GDP - A weak month with tariffs threatening

January 31, 2025 2:18 PM UTC

November Canadian GDP with a 0.2% decline was weaker than the -0.1% estimate made with October’s release, where the increase was unrevised at 0.3%, The preliminary estimate for December is for a rise of 0.2%, which if accurate would leave Q4 GDP near a 1.8% annualized estimate made by the Bank of

Bank of Canada eases by 25bps as expected, sees balanced risks if a trade war can be avoided

January 29, 2025 4:21 PM UTC

The Bank of Canada eased by 25bps to 3.0% as expected, and confirmed the ending of Quantitative Tightening, as had been outlined by Deputy Governor Toni Gravelle on January 16. The BoC has delivered some fairly optimistic forecasts, but these are made assuming an absence of tariffs, given that the B

Canada: BoC's Macklem - Optimistic provided trade war can be avoided

January 29, 2025 3:12 PM UTC

BoC Governor Macklem sees the economy as well positioned provided a trade war can be avoided.

Canada: BoC's Gravelle - Sees QT ending in first half of 2025

January 16, 2025 5:49 PM UTC

These comments from BoC Deputy Governor Gravelle outlining an end to QT by mid 2025 allow the January 29 meeting to focus on rates. We expect a 25bps easing.

Bank of Canada Preview for January 29: Easing to continue but more cautiously

January 13, 2025 5:23 PM UTC

The Bank of Canada meets on January 29, and will make its decision a few hours before one is made by the FOMC. The BoC decision will be following two straight easings of 50bps, though minutes from the last meeting, on December 11, showed a debate between 25bps and 50bps, and that they expected a mor

US November trade balance corrects lower but trend still widening

January 7, 2025 1:54 PM UTC

November’s US trade deficit of $78.3bn is in line with expectations generated by advance goods data though up from a $73.6bn deficit seen in October. The data shows exports and imports both rebounding from weakness in October that was probably influenced by a strike at East Coast ports early in th

December Outlook: The Trump Effect- Tariffs, Fiscal Shifts and Geopolitics

December 30, 2024 8:05 AM UTC

All chapters of the December Outlook are now available and simply click the link below. 

December Outlook Webinar on Jan 7: The Trump Effect- Tariffs, Fiscal Shifts and Geopolitics

December 24, 2024 8:30 AM UTC

    The U.S. economy’s momentum remains reasonable before the impact of President-elect Trump’s policies in 2025 and 2026.  While high uncertainty exists on the scale and timing of policy, the strategic bias is clear – sizeable tax cuts that will boost the budget deficit; tariffs (threats

December Outlook: The Trump Effect- Tariffs, Fiscal Shifts and Geopolitics

December 20, 2024 12:15 PM UTC

All chapters of the December Outlook are now available and simply click the link below. 

Outlook Overview: The Trump Effect- Tariffs, Fiscal Shifts and Geopolitics

December 19, 2024 9:25 AM UTC

·        The U.S. economy momentum remains reasonable before President elect Trump’s policies impact in 2025 and 2026.  While high uncertainty exists on the scale and timing of policies, the strategic bias is clear – sizeable tax cuts that will boost the budget deficit; tariffs (threats

Jan 7 Outlook Webinar: The Trump Effect- Tariffs, Fiscal Shifts and Geopolitics

December 18, 2024 1:23 PM UTC

    The U.S. economy’s momentum remains reasonable before the impact of President-elect Trump’s policies in 2025 and 2026.  While high uncertainty exists on the scale and timing of policy, the strategic bias is clear – sizeable tax cuts that will boost the budget deficit; tariffs (threats

Canada November CPI - Subdued but little further progress on BoC core rates

December 17, 2024 2:06 PM UTC

November Canadian CPI is slightly weaker than expected overall at 1.9% from 2.0% yr/yr, and subdued on the month, though there was little further progress on the Bank of Canada’s core rates. This supports expectations that the BoC will ease further, but at a more gradual pace than the 50bps moves

Canada: BoC's Macklem - Inflation risks balanced around 2% target

December 16, 2024 8:37 PM UTC

The latest comments from BoC Governor Macklem back the more cautious message delivered on December 11.

Trump Tariff Threats Causing Policy Division in Canada

December 16, 2024 6:19 PM UTC

Trump’s tariff threats are being felt in Canadian politics, with Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s resignation, due to disagreements with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s plans to give the economy fiscal support, with Freeland preferring to “keep the powder dry” given the risks Canada fa

Bank of Canada delivers a second straight 50bps easing but sees a more gradual approach in 2025

December 11, 2024 4:29 PM UTC

The Bank of Canada has delivered a second straight 50bps easing, taking the rate to 3.25%, as largely expected. This puts the rate at the upper end of the 2.25-3.25% range the BoC sees as neutral, and Governor Tiff Macklem stated he now anticipates a more gradual approach to policy. We expect three

Canada: BoC's Macklem - Anticipates a more gradual approach to policy

December 11, 2024 3:05 PM UTC

The Bank of Canada delivered a second straight 50bps easing but Governor Macklem anticipates a more gradual approach going forward.

Bank of Canada Preview for December 11: Another 50bps easing with tariffs threatened

December 2, 2024 2:16 PM UTC

The Bank of Canada meets on December 11, and we expect a second straight 50bps easing, to 3.25%. While October’s inflation data was a mild disappointment the underlying picture looks subdued. While there are some signs the economy is starting to respond to lower rates, with Q3 GDP having disappoin

Preview: Due November 29 - Canada Q3/September GDP - A subdued quarter with a stronger finish

November 28, 2024 2:38 PM UTC

We expect Q3 Canadian GDP to rise by 1.3% annualized, a little below a 1.5% estimate made with the Bank of Canada’s October Monetary Policy Report and also slightly below the near 2% pace seen in the first half of the year. We do however expect the quarter to end with a stronger 0.3% rise in Septe

Trump International: DM Countries

November 21, 2024 7:06 AM UTC

Much uncertainty still exists on policy but in 2025 the EU will likely be under pressure from targeted new tariffs by the Trump administration, while also being asked to spend more on defense spending.  Purchasing extra LNG and military hardware from the U.S. is one way towards a potential trade de

Preview: Due November 29 - Canada Q3/September GDP - A subdued quarter with a stronger finish

November 5, 2024 7:44 PM UTC

We expect Q3 Canadian GDP to rise by 1.3% annualized, a little below a 1.5% estimate made with the Bank of Canada’s October Monetary Policy Report and also slightly below the near 2% pace seen in the first half of the year. We do however expect the quarter to end with a stronger 0.3% rise in Septe

Bank of Canada Minutes Show Strong Consensus For Larger 50bps Move

November 5, 2024 6:58 PM UTC

The Bank of Canada has released minutes from its meeting on October 23, which accelerated the pace of easing to 50bps, to 3.75%, after three straight meetings in which the rate was eased by 25bps.  While members considered another 25bps move, there was a strong consensus for taking a larger step.

US September trade balance corrects August improvement, Canada's balance little changed in Q3

November 5, 2024 2:06 PM UTC

September’s US trade deficit of $84.4bn is the widest since April 2022, rebounding from a 5-month low deficit of $70.8bn in August to keep a deteriorating trend intact. The average of August and September is slightly lower than July’s $78.9bn but the deficit increased in Q3.

Canada August GDP - Flat but September seen stronger

October 31, 2024 1:41 PM UTC

August Canadian GDP was unchanged with July revised down to 0.1% from 0.2%, but the preliminary estimate for September is for a stronger rise of 90.3%. This would leave Q3 up by around 1.0% annualized, below a recent 1.5% Bank of Canada estimate, though would suggest a stronger base to start Q4.