Found 4 blog entries tagged as Interest Rates.

Buying a home in British Columbia can be challenging for first-time buyers, given the high property prices in the province. Saving enough for a down payment, closing costs, and securing a mortgage can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, there are many programs and incentives in B.C. – as well as federal initiatives across Canada – to help make home ownership more affordable. This guide provides a clear overview of these opportunities, explaining the basics of specific tax breaks, grants, and loans, along with practical details on how they work and how to apply.

If you’re new to Canada or just new to homeownership, it’s crucial to focus on programs relevant to British Columbia (for example, U.S. resources like hudhomesusa.org won’t apply here). In B.C.,…

4266 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post


Canadian prices, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose 1.7 per cent on a year-over-year basis in April, down from a 2.3 per cent increase in March. Month-over-month, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI was down 0.2 per cent in April.

The overall slowdown in headline CPI is largely driven by lower energy prices, catalyzed by the removal of the consumer carbon tax. The CPI ex-energy rose by 2.9 per cent in April.

While shelter costs remain the main driver of inflation, grocery price growth has also outpaced the headline CPI over the past three months, with prices rising 3.8 per cent year-over-year in April.

In British Columbia, consumer prices rose 2.0 per cent year-over-year, down from 2.6 per cent in March. The Bank of…

698 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Canadian prices, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose 2.3 per cent on a year-over-year basis in March, down from a 2.6 per cent increase in February. Month-over-month, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI was unchanged in March.

The overall slowdown in headline CPI is largely driven by lower gasoline prices, with the CPI excluding gasoline rising by 2.5 per cent in March.

Shelter price growth continues to cool, as mortgage interest costs were up 7.9 per cent, marking the nineteenth consecutive month of deceleration. Similarly, rent was up 5.1 per cent year-over-year in March, down from 5.8 per cent in February.

In British Columbia, consumer prices rose 2.6 per cent year-over-year, down from 3.0 per cent in February.

The Bank…

941 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Canadian real GDP was largely unchanged from the prior month in July, following a 0.2 per cent decrease in June. A decline in manufacturing activity (-1.5 per cent) pulled GDP downwards with lower inventory formation and the BC port strike as the major contributors. Meanwhile, as wildfires retreated in Eastern Canada, the mining and quarrying sector jumped 4.2 per cent. Offices of real estate agents and brokers fell 1.3 per cent, declining for the first time in 6 months. Overall, Canadian real GDP is now 3.6 per cent above its pre-pandemic, February 2020 level.

Preliminary estimates suggest that output in the Canadian economy edged up 0.1 per cent in August. July’s GDP number came in flat as anticipated, and although economic growth appears to be…

386 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post