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The Bad Economic Times Have Only Just Started for Canada

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1 year ago

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The Bad Economic Times Have Only Just Started for Canada

Canada’s economic woes have only just begun, despite recent signs of moderation in both GDP and job growth. The agony that Canadians are currently facing due to inflation is only going to intensify, thanks to Trudeau.

There will be a tough spell in the Canadian economy. The rate of expansion has slowed dramatically. Job creation has slowed down. The rate of inflation has not decreased. However, the suffering that families are experiencing now will only intensify.

In a note, Desjardins associate in macro strategy Tiago Figueiredo expressed pessimism about the future.

The economy held up better than predicted for a time there. The interest rate increases from the Bank of Canada accumulated. The economy and the number of available employment both improved even so.

The economy was bound to suffer, though. Rising loan rates and skyrocketing inflation have been devastating to families. Now, economists are seeing signs of instability in the data, and they anticipate this to worsen. the second quarter of this year saw a decline in GDP.

This week, economists will have a better idea of whether or not the economy shrank further in August after showing no growth in July. Reasons for this include natural disasters and labour disputes like the B.C. port strike.

Canada's economy

Canada’s economy had already lost steam before that happened.

If that happens, Canada will officially be in a recession because the official definition requires two consecutive quarters of negative growth.

Manulife Investment Management’s global head economist and strategist Frances Donald has argued that we should stop discussing the name of this economic downturn and instead concentrate on how it will affect individuals.

“Even if there are technical factors that avert two quarters of negative GDP, this economy will feel like a recession to most Canadians, for the next year,” she said to CBC News.

Several variables, according to experts, are hiding the true severity of the economic downturn. As a first point, it takes the economy around a year and a half to fully reflect the effects of changes in interest rates.

Seventeen months ago, the Bank of Canada started its cycle of rate increases. That implies we haven’t seen the full effect of Canada’s fastest, most aggressive interest rate increasing cycle yet.

Second, the pandemic altered consumption habits, which have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels of predictability. Canadians made significant purchases during lockdowns due to pandemic fears. We scooped up exercise tools, televisions and hoover cleaners. These same families are now investing mostly on activities rather than material goods.

Canada's economy

New data on retail sales shows an increase in July and a decline in August. When so many external forces are tugging at and pushing on consumers, it can be difficult to tell how much of what’s happening is cyclical or seasonal.

Inflation and rising borrowing costs are dampening discretionary consumer spending. Another evidence of slow growth for the Canadian economy at a time when the Bank of Canada is dealing with inflation that’s higher than expected, BMO senior economist Robert Kavcic Said.

An extraordinary increase in immigration looms over all the data and shifts. In just the past year, Canada has seen an influx of over a million new residents. This has boosted consumption, but it has also hidden some structural flaws.

According to Donald, those things have helped make the economy look better than it is.

We are in the time just after the Titanic struck the iceberg, but before it sank. When we’ve had a shock, but it hasn’t been too bad,” Donald explained.

The Bank of Canada has temporarily stopped raising interest rates. The central bank, however, cautioned that this would be conditional on continued inflation reduction efforts.

Canada

Fortunately, the Titanic economy isn’t the only one we can save by cutting interest rates.

Since then, inflation has surged to unprecedented heights. The price of everything went up, not just petrol and mortgage rates this time. All of the so-called core measures of inflation, which exclude more erratic factors like the cost of petrol, increased or remained stable.

Scotiabank’s vice president and head of Capital Markets Economics, Derek Holt, calls the breadth of August’s pricing pressures “astounding.” He claims that 52 percent of the items in the consumer price index basket are increasing by four percent on an annualised basis from one month to the next. Almost two-thirds have seen gains of more than 3%.

According to him, the most recent numbers cast doubt on the foundational beliefs individuals have held about the economy.

As the saying goes, “inflation is cooling.” They attribute it entirely to increases in the price of petrol and mortgage interest rates. They say the government’s (fuzzy) “plan” is successful.

They claim that it’s clear the Bank of Canada will not raise rates again. In a note to customers, he called it all “complete, utter, rubbish.”

According to Holt, “definitely ups the odds of a rate hike” at the next FOMC meeting in October because of the recent acceleration in inflation readings.

Bank of Canada

Sharon Kozicki, the Bank of Canada’s deputy governor, spoke publicly this week and described the central bank’s predicament.
“Rate reductions are still a ways off.”

If we don’t take action now, we’ll have to take even more action later. She warned attendees at a Regina luncheon that excessive austerity could have unintended consequences for the economy.

Some inflationary swings, she added, were “not uncommon,” and that previous rate hikes “will continue to weigh” on economic growth.

Nothing of it is novel. The central bank has spent the better part of the last year and a half discussing the trade-offs involved in preventing inflation from becoming entrenched, while also avoiding doing too much and creating more pain than is required.

Economists like Donald, though, argue that things have changed as the central bank considers when and how it will have to look at bringing rates back down to lessen the burden on people.

“Rate reductions are still quite a ways off,” she said. However, the exit ramp was seen far off in the distance. And the Bank of Canada is working to broaden that exit ramp so they have some leeway if they ever need it.

In her opinion, rates will begin to drop again in the first half of 2019.

“But for a lot of Canadians, there’s… a lot of pain to get through,” Donald remarked.

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Geoff Brown is a seasoned staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. With his sharp writing skills he consistently delivers high-quality, engaging content that resonates with readers. Geoff's' articles are well-researched, informative, and written in a clear, concise style that keeps audiences hooked. His ability to craft compelling narratives while seamlessly incorporating relevant keywords has made him a valuable asset to the VORNews team.

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Sonic the Hedgehog Dominates Christmas Wish Lists

Published

3 days ago

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2024-12-21

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Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog Merchandise are hot Christmas Items

Sonic the Hedgehog is dominating Christmas wish lists this year. The lovable blue hedgehog is back in the spotlight, from sonic the hedgehog toys and games to sonic the hedgehog coloring pages and movie hype.

Sonic-themed holiday merchandise is on fire, from quirky sweaters to action figures flying off shelves. Sonic the Hedgehog Christmas outfits for kids are selling out fast, making them a go-to gift option for festive fun.

Retailers have been quick to recognize Sonic’s holiday appeal. Special promotions and exclusive items, like the Sonic holiday t-shirts, are everywhere.

Everyone’s stocking up on Sonic merchandise, from big-box stores to boutique retailers.

Online shopping platforms are seeing a surge in searches for Sonic items. Whether it’s Sonic Christmas-themed tops or Sonic the Hedgehog coloring pages, Sonic the Hedgehog toys or Sonic and the Hedgehog 3, the demand is skyrocketing.

Retailers who tap into this trend are sure to see strong holiday sales.

Sonic has been around since the early 90s, but his popularity never wanes. With the release of Sonic 3, fans are more excited than ever.

sonic the hedgehog 4

Sonic the Hedgehog 4

Meanwhile, Paramount Pictures is preparing “Sonic the Hedgehog 4,” with the newest addition in the family-friendly genre set for a spring 2027 release.

The announcement comes as “Sonic 3” opens in theatres on Friday, estimated to gross $55 million to $60 million from 3,800 North American locations.

The sequel is shaping up to be a good holiday season blockbuster for Paramount, which explains the desire in future “Sonic” adventures. On the international front, the film will be released on Christmas Day in 52 markets.

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave “Sonic 3” an outstanding 87% fresh score.

The first two films grossed a total of $725.2 million at the global box office and generated over $180 million in global consumer expenditure through home entertainment rentals and digital purchases.

They also inspired a spinoff Paramount+ series, “Knuckles,” which premiered earlier this year.

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Amazon Strike Called By Teamsters Union 10,000 Walkout

Published

4 days ago

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2024-12-20

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Amazon Strike Called By Teamsters Union
Teamsters members were demonstrating at "hundreds" of other Amazon locations.

An Amazon strike has hit facilities in the United States in an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the corporation for a labour agreement during a peak shopping season.

The Teamsters union told the Associated Press that Amazon delivery drivers at seven facilities in the United States walked off the job on Thursday after the firm failed to discuss a labour contract.

According to the union, Amazon employees in Teamsters union jackets were protesting at “hundreds” of additional Amazon facilities, which the union billed as the “largest strike” in US history involving the company.

The corporation, which employs over 800,000 people in its US delivery network, stated that its services will be unaffected.

It was unclear how many people, including members of Germany’s United Services Union, participated in Thursday’s demonstration. The Teamsters union reported that thousands of Amazon employees were implicated in the United States.

Amazon Strike at 10 Locations

Overall, the group claims to represent “nearly 10,000” Amazon strikers, having signed up thousands of people at roughly ten locations across the country, many of whom have joined in recent months.

The organization has claimed recognition from Amazon going on strike, claiming the firm illegally neglected its obligation to bargain collectively over salary and working conditions.

The Teamsters is a long-standing US union with nearly one million members. It is well-known for securing lucrative contracts for its members at companies like delivery behemoth UPS.

Most of the Teamsters’ Amazon campaigns have concerned drivers working for third-party delivery companies that partner with the tech behemoth.

Amazon denies that it is liable as an employer in those circumstances, which is a point of legal contention. In at least one case, labour officials have taken a preliminary stance in favour of the union.

Stalled Contract Negotiations

Amazon employees at a major warehouse on Staten Island in New York have also chosen to join the Teamsters. Their warehouse is the only Amazon facility in the United States where labour officials have formally recognized a union win.

However, the Amazon strike is because contract negotiations have not progressed since the 2022 vote. It was not one of the areas scheduled to go on strike on Thursday.

Amazon, one of the largest employers in the United States, has long received criticism for its working conditions and has been the target of activists seeking to gain traction among its employees.

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Business

Amazon Encounters Numerous Strikes As Unions Aim At The Holiday Shopping Surge.

Published

4 days ago

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2024-12-19

By

Amazon

(VOR News) – Thousands of Amazon employees at various sites across the country were scheduled to go on strike on Thursday in an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the retail behemoth to acknowledge its unionised workers in the United States.

The walkout is expected to concentrate on seven Amazon locations across the country during the holiday purchasing surge and may be the most significant union action against Amazon in the nation’s history.

The business announced on Thursday morning that there had been no effect on operations. It also stated that it is “continuing to concentrate on fulfilling customers’ holiday orders.”

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters maintains that it represents more than 10,000 Amazon employees and contractors in aviation centres, warehouses, and delivery centres.

Amazon has refused to acknowledge the union for many years.

The retail giant, which employs approximately 1.5 million individuals, excludes contractors and part-timers. A strike has been initiated by delivery couriers and warehouse employees at seven distinct locations in order to exert pressure on the company to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement that would encompass modifications to compensation, amenities, and working conditions.

Picketing was intended for New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Skokie, Illinois.

Also, the Teamsters assert that they are establishing picket lines at “hundreds” of additional warehouses and delivery centres by encouraging non-unionized workers to picket under U.S. labour law, which protects workers’ ability to take collective action to further their interests.

“Amazon workers are exercising their power,” Randy Korgan stated to NPR.

“They now realise there is a pathway to take on a corporate giant like this – and that they hold the power.” Amazon responds by accusing the Teamsters of fabricating information regarding the strikes, asserting that the participants are “entirely” outsiders rather than employees or subcontractors of the corporation.

Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that “the reality is that they were unable to secure sufficient support from our employees and partners and have invited external parties to harass and intimidate our team.” For more than a year, the Teamsters have been intentionally misleading the public by claiming to represent “thousands of employees and drivers.” They do not.

The Teamsters did not provide a specific duration for the strike; however, they informed NPR that it would extend beyond one day. Workers would receive $1,000 per week in strike money, as per the union.

Teamsters President Sean O’Brien issued a statement in which he stated, “If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can attribute it to Amazon’s insatiable greed.” We established a firm deadline for Amazon to attend the meeting and treat our members equitably. They disregarded it.

The Teamsters granted until December 15 to convene with its unionised employees and develop a collective bargaining agreement.

Amazon has opposed all unionisation efforts in court, asserting that unions were not advantageous to its employees and emphasising the compensation and benefits that the organisation currently provides.

Amazon has been accused of discriminatory labour practices on numerous occasions, including the termination of labour organisers. Furthermore, it has disputed its official status as a contract employer.

Teamsters organize Amazon delivery couriers and other employees.

In June, Amazon established its first unionised warehouse in Staten Island, New York, two years after making history by voting to join the fledgling Amazon Labour Union, which is also affiliated with the Teamsters.

The union is one of the most influential in the United States and Canada, with 1.3 million members. On Thursday, the German United Services Union declared that Amazon employees in Germany would participate in a strike in conjunction with their American counterparts.

In the past, Amazon has experienced demonstrations in Germany and Spain that were related to the holiday season in order to advocate for improved wages and working conditions.

“The holiday season has arrived.” Delivery is anticipated. Patricia Campos-Medina, the executive director of Cornell University’s Worker Institute, asserts that “this is the moment in which workers have control over the supply chain.”

The Teamsters have reported that Amazon’s profits have increased both during and after the pandemic. The corporation is currently valued at over $2.3 trillion, with net income of $15 billion in the most recent quarter alone. It is the second-largest private employer in the United States, following Walmart.

SOURCE: NPR

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