Highlights
United States
• Signs of improved economic growth continue to spring forth. This week, retail sales, industrial production and housing starts all surprised on the upside.
• The bi-partisan tax plan passed the Senate and the House this week and will soon become law, providing an additional boost to economic growth in 2011.
• Beyond the next few quarters, a further improvement in economic activity will require resolution of the outstanding issues holding back growth: clearing foreclosures, reducing uncertainty in the housing market, and repairing household balance sheets.
Canada
• The economic data this week were mostly good news. Manufacturing sales up 1.7% in October, and forward looking indicators point to continued strength in the coming months. Meanwhile, more good news came from the existing home market with sales up 5.4% - a fourth consecutive monthly gain. Sales are still down 16% from year ago levels.
• In other news, we learned the Canadian household debt-to-income ratio surpassed that in the U.S., rising to 148%. Both Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney and Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty expressed concern over the level of household indebtedness. In the event that household debt became a larger concern, both argued that regulation would be the most appropriate tool to curb household borrowing.
click here to read full report
United States
• Signs of improved economic growth continue to spring forth. This week, retail sales, industrial production and housing starts all surprised on the upside.
• The bi-partisan tax plan passed the Senate and the House this week and will soon become law, providing an additional boost to economic growth in 2011.
• Beyond the next few quarters, a further improvement in economic activity will require resolution of the outstanding issues holding back growth: clearing foreclosures, reducing uncertainty in the housing market, and repairing household balance sheets.
Canada
• The economic data this week were mostly good news. Manufacturing sales up 1.7% in October, and forward looking indicators point to continued strength in the coming months. Meanwhile, more good news came from the existing home market with sales up 5.4% - a fourth consecutive monthly gain. Sales are still down 16% from year ago levels.
• In other news, we learned the Canadian household debt-to-income ratio surpassed that in the U.S., rising to 148%. Both Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney and Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty expressed concern over the level of household indebtedness. In the event that household debt became a larger concern, both argued that regulation would be the most appropriate tool to curb household borrowing.
click here to read full report
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