RSS Apr
04
2008
March 2008 U.S. Employment Numbers
The March 2008 U.S. employment numbers have been released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. How do the latest figures match up against two key benchmark measures?
Notes from Alex Carrickblog
Reed Construction Data Chief Economist Alex Carrick discusses current developments in Canada's economic environment. He also shares light-hearted reflections on life and current events.
communities « market insights « notes from alex carrick
March 2008 Canada Employment Numbers
The March 2008 Canadian employment numbers have just been released by Statistics Canada. How do the latest figures match up against two key benchmark measures?
Apr
03
2008
University Enrolment in Canada Continues to Set Records
Capital spending to expand facilities by Canada’s universities has been on a tear over the past several years, mainly due to rapidly growing enrolments by the student population.
Apr
02
2008
Expect Acceleration in the Appreciation of the Yuan
Rapid price inflation in China – over 7% in January 2008 − will likely lead to a greater appreciation in the value of the Yuan this year, versus the U.S. dollar, than at any time since a partial float was first permitted in July 2005. The logic for this flows from the close economic ties between the two countries.
Apr
01
2008
A Dozen Painkillers for Canada’s “Hurtin” Industries
The weak U.S. housing market and the high-valued Canadian dollar, to one degree or another, are depressing activity levels in two of Canada’s most important sectors, forestry and manufacturing. This has led to clamours for government assistance, but at least a dozen “painkillers” have already been provided.
Mar
31
2008
Rising House Prices are Good News for Canada’s Economy
Nothing can turn an economy sour faster than falling house prices. Yes, they are often a symptom of other problems rather than the primary infection site. However, once begun, the cycle of falling house prices is hard to break. Canadians have been lucky on this count so far and should have a good deal of empathy for their American cousins, based on what happened in the mid-1990s.
Mar
28
2008
“Gut Check” Symptoms of Recession (2)
How do you know that you are in a recession on a “gut-check” level rather than an academic level? The following concludes with a final five indicators after introductory coverage a day or two ago.
Mar
27
2008
“Gut Check” Symptoms of Recession (1)
The usual definition of a recession is two quarters of negative change in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, that seems a little academic. How do you know that you are in a recession on a more emotional level?
Mar
26
2008
Private Office Buildings Lead Canada’s Starts through February
In the first two months of 2008 versus the same period in 2007, grand total construction starts (i.e., residential, plus ICI, plus engineering) in all of Canada, according to CanaData, have been -15% in square footage and -19% in dollar volume. However, this masks considerable variation within the individual sub-categories of construction.
Mar
25
2008
The World of Commodities – “Snippets” (2)
In my Blog entry of March 20, 2008, entitled Playing Chess in Three Dimensions, I set out the reasons why it has become so important to pay attention to world commodity markets and why that task has become such a challenge. In this entry, set out as “snippets”, are some more of the most interesting observations with respect to commodities that I have come across in my recent reading.
