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Monday’s CPI Could Decide Your Next Mortgage Payment

  Canada lost 68,000 jobs in September. Inflation is sitting at 3%. The Bank of Canada has to decide on October 28 which of those facts matters more, and on Monday morning one more number lands to help it choose. If you carry a variable-rate mortgage, a HELOC or a renewal this winter, that number has a price tag. Two reports pulling in opposite directions The jobs data came first. Statistics Canada reported on October 9 that employment fell by 68,000 in September, pushing the unemployment rate to 6.5% from 6.4%. It followed a drop of about 42,000 in August, which means more than half of the 181,000 jobs gained between April and July have now been wiped out. Ontario shed 20,000 positions on its own. Markets reacted within hours: the odds of a quarter-point Bank of Canada hike on October 28 dropped to roughly 25% from about 40%, according to LSEG data reported by Reuters. Inflation is telling the opposite story. The consumer price index rose 3.0% year over year in August, matching Ju...

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A Comprehensive Approach to Addressing the US Debt Problem

 

The US debt problem is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach to solve. While closing the $688 billion tax gap is a step in the right direction, it is not a panacea for the US debt problem. According to a recent article by AOL, even if the IRS achieves a 100% collectible rate and closes the estimated $688 billion tax gap, that won’t be enough to meaningfully shrink the US debt gap. The article suggests that the US government needs to focus on other areas such as reducing spending, increasing revenue, and improving economic growth.

The US debt problem is a critical issue that requires immediate attention. The current debt-to-GDP ratio indicates that current policy under this report’s assumptions is unsustainable. If lawmakers fail to take action soon, the report projects that the federal debt could “exceed 200 percent [of GDP] by 2046 and reach 566 percent by 2097”. To stabilize the federal debt at current levels, the Financial Report estimates that the government will have to run “primary surpluses” equal to 0.6 percent of GDP, 4.9 percentage points higher than current projections, between 2023 and 2097 .

Therefore, it is imperative that the US government takes a comprehensive approach to address the debt problem. The government should focus on reducing spending, increasing revenue, and improving economic growth. A balanced approach that includes a combination of these measures is necessary to address the US debt problem.

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