Posts

• April 12, 2021

  Business Outlook Survey—Spring 2021

  Results from the spring Business Outlook Survey suggest that business sentiment continues to improve. Firms reported less uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthening demand from weak levels. Still, the recovery remains uneven, with firms tied to high-contact services facing ongoing challenges.

  Content Type(s): Publications, Business Outlook Survey
• April 12, 2021

  Canadian Survey of Consumer Expectations—First Quarter of 2021

  The Canadian Survey of Consumer Expectations (CSCE) collects respondents’ views on inflation, the labour market and household finances. The survey for the first quarter of 2021 was conducted from February 15 to March 4, 2021. This period coincides with news of temporary delays in COVID-19 vaccinations in Canada and growing risks from new variants of the virus. The survey was completed before the most recent wave of infections and lockdowns in the largest provinces. Like the previous three surveys, the 2021 first-quarter survey included questions on the impacts of the pandemic and the measures to contain its spread. This survey also asked respondents about their expected economic and social activities once the majority of Canadians have received their COVID-19 vaccine. Similar to the report for the fourth quarter of 2020, this report also provides some details by demographic characteristics.

  Content Type(s): Publications, Canadian Survey of Consumer Expectations

• Update on housing market imbalances and household indebtedness

  Staff Analytical Note 2021-4 Mikael Khan, Olga Bilyk, Matthew Ackman

  Exceptional strength in the housing market during the pandemic is underpinning Canada’s economic recovery. However, two key vulnerabilities—housing market imbalances and elevated household indebtedness—have intensified.

  Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff analytical notes Topic(s): Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Credit and credit aggregates, Financial stability, Housing, Recent economic and financial developments, Sectoral balance sheet JEL Code(s): D, D1, D14, D8, D84, E, E5, G, G2, G21, G28, R, R2, R21

• Stablecoin Assessment Framework

  Staff Discussion Paper 2021-6 Alejandro García, Bena Lands, Dennis Yanchus

  We offer relevant authorities a three-step assessment framework they can use to understand, identify and quantify the risks associated with stablecoin and other cryptocurrency arrangements.

  Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff discussion papers Topic(s): Digital currencies and fintech, Financial institutions, Financial markets, Financial system regulation and policies, Payment clearing and settlement systems JEL Code(s): D, D7, D78, D8, D81, G, G0, G01, G1, G18, O, O3, O38

• Examining the Impact of Home Purchase Restrictions on China’s Housing Market

  Staff Working Paper 2021-18 Zhentong Lu, Sisi Zhang, Jian Hong

  How do “cooling measures” in the housing market—policies aimed to stabilize prices—affect the market? We use a structural model of housing demand and price competition among developers to evaluate China’s home purchase restriction policies implemented in 2010–11.

  Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Housing, Market structure and pricing JEL Code(s): O, O1, O18, R, R3, R31, R38

• Trade and Market Power in Product and Labor Markets

  Staff Working Paper 2021-17 Gaelan MacKenzie

  Trade liberalizations increase the sales and input purchases of productive firms relative to their less productive domestic competitors. This reallocation affects firms’ market power in their product and input markets. I quantify how the labour market power of employers affects the distribution and size of the gains from trade.

  Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Economic models, Labour markets, Market structure and pricing, Productivity, Trade integration JEL Code(s): D, D4, D43, F, F1, F12, F6, J, L, L1, L13
• April 6, 2021

  CFIF Meeting (April 6, 2021)

  Content Type(s): Meetings Source(s): Canadian Fixed-Income Forum
• April 6, 2021

  Bank of Canada to begin publishing CORRA Compounded Index

  As administrator of the Canadian Overnight Repo Rate Average (CORRA), the Bank of Canada (Bank) will begin publishing the CORRA Compounded Index effective April 6, 2021.

  Content Type(s): Press, Market notices Source(s): Canadian Alternative Reference Rate Working Group
• April 5, 2021

  Operational details for upcoming secondary market purchases of Government of Canada securities (April 12-23)

  As previously announced, the Bank of Canada (the Bank) launched on April 1, 2020 a program to purchase Government of Canada securities in the secondary market – the Government Bond Purchase Program (GBPP).

  Content Type(s): Press, Market notices Source(s): Government of Canada Bond Purchase Program
• April 5, 2021

  Understanding how monetary policy works

  It takes time for our policy decisions to filter—or be transmitted—through the economy and financial system.

  Content Type(s): Explainers Topic(s): Monetary policy