BusinessAnalysis
July credit data measure balances, not just new borrowing
Statistics Canada’s latest credit release includes revised history. A simple balance calculation explains why a change in outstanding debt cannot stand in for new lending.
Canadian business, in context.
News & analysis
BusinessAnalysis
June lumber shipments exceeded production, but the gap is not an inventory verdict
Canada’s sawmills shipped more lumber than they produced in June. The physical-volume figures need a stock reconciliation before they can explain inventory.
BusinessAnalysis
Canada’s $51.3B securities inflow came from two portfolio moves
July’s net securities inflow combined Canadian sales of foreign assets with concentrated foreign buying of federal bonds. It was not a single broad investment in Canadian business.
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Business, evidence & perspective
BusinessAnalysis
A 2026 spending update still describes households in 2023
Revised survey weights can change an estimate without changing its reference year. A worked example separates a statistical update from a new movement in household spending.
BusinessAnalysis
Bank of Canada’s September rate summary points to caution, not a clear pivot, for borrowers and exporters
The Bank of Canada’s September 16 deliberation summary shows why it held the policy rate at 2.25% on September 2: stronger growth was offset by soft labour conditions and higher inflation risk. Fresh August inflation and jobs data keep that tension intact rather than resolving it.
EnergyAnalysis
Canada’s larger heat-pump stock brings a service-market question
Revised historical data show a much larger installed base by 2023. For contractors, accumulated equipment and annual installation demand are different markets.
CanadaAnalysis
Fewer people employed can coexist with a steady unemployment rate
Canada’s August labour report illustrates why employment totals and unemployment rates need to be read together. An example shows how the denominator changes the result.
EnergyAnalysis
Bay du Nord’s closed public review is one milestone, not first oil
The regulator’s public-review page now records the consultation as closed. Equinor still presents investment and production dates as future project milestones.
EnergyAnalysis
Canada’s energy scenarios carry assumptions a business plan must retain
The regulator’s latest snapshot shows economic growth alongside lower emissions. Its baseline is a comparison tool, with a policy cutoff and no assigned probability.
TechnologyAnalysis
AI time savings need to survive the whole job
A new Bank of Canada explainer separates tasks from complete jobs. A worked example shows why businesses should count checking, corrections and setup time.
TechnologyAnalysis
Payment-order study shows why a quantum claim needs a conventional benchmark
Research on Italy’s TARGET2 payments finds similar savings from two methods at smaller batch sizes. A simple example shows what payment reordering changes.
TechnologyAnalysis
Robot adoption research puts owners’ salaries inside the pay question
A Canadian study separates workers’ pay from owners’ employment income. That distinction changes how businesses can read automation’s gains.
BusinessAnalysis
Vehicle revenue rose in July while unit sales fell
Canada’s July vehicle data moved in opposite directions by units and dollars, while zero-emission vehicles gained share. Dealers need all three measures to read demand and mix.
BusinessAnalysis
Non-residential projects led July’s drop in Canadian building permits
The permit-value decline was concentrated outside housing. Contractors still need project-level evidence before treating construction intentions as booked work.
BusinessAnalysis
Non-US exports reached a record in July while Canada’s total exports fell
Different destination groups moved in opposite directions. One month’s record does not establish a lasting change in the customer base.
BusinessAnalysis
Science and technical vacancies rise beneath a flat Canadian total
Second-quarter openings in natural and applied sciences increased while the national vacancy count barely moved. The occupational split matters for recruitment.
BusinessAnalysis
Canada’s new $20 note gives cash-handling businesses time to prepare
The design was unveiled on September 3, but circulation is scheduled for late February 2027. Equipment readiness and staff training are separate jobs.