Skip to content

MonthJanuary 2018

Posted Consumer Debt

World Debt clock comparison… How’s Canada doing compared with the world?

Debt.  It’s a popular topic.  Personal debt. Govt debt. Corporate debt.  Back in 2013, I published an article comparing Canada’s debt with the rest of the world.  Back then, like today, there was so much negative news being written about our so-called high personal debt level.   I thought I’d turn the tables on the govt and see how they were doing.

Here we are, 2018 and  five years later.  We’re supposedly experiencing fantastic economic times.  Lowest unemployment in 40 years according to the Dec 2017 job report.  Things are so good that we can increase minimum wage by over 30% in Ontario and other Provinces.  We must really be doing great, right? Scorecard time…

The logical conclusion, or the simple math equation is with GOOD TIMES OR A STRONG PROSPEROUS ECONOMY = LOWER NATIONAL DEBT…. Consumers are expected to lower their personal debt levels.  Isn’t the govt supposed to lower or work on eliminating our national debt?  One would think so. Let’s find out… Continue reading “World Debt clock comparison… How’s Canada doing compared with the world?”

Posted 2 Comments on Rates are going up… for now… is this the end of low rates? Consumer Debt

Rates are going up… for now… is this the end of low rates?

 Next Wednesday will be the first Bank of Canada meeting date to set the Target rate, which directly affects Bank Prime rate and Variable rate mortgages. It’s almost a certainty that the Bank of Canada Governor, Stephen Poloz, will raise the rates.

POSITIVE DATA MEANS HIGHER RATES

There’s been too much positive economic data lately. Low unemployment levels (5.7%, the lowest since the ’70s), higher spending by consumers, slightly higher inflation (2.1%), record level stock market. We’ve also seen some comments and posturing by the Bank of Canada Govr that suggests we should expect a 0.25% increase.

Bond yields have also been moving steadily upward. Yup, we should expect a rate hike. And depending on how the market reacts to this, we could possibly see another rate hike at the next Bank of Canada meeting on March 7th.

BUT WAIT, IS THIS THE END OF MORTGAGE RATES IN THE 3.00%’s?

Continue reading “Rates are going up… for now… is this the end of low rates?”