|  Prices have not come down The Bank of Canada held its benchmark lending rate unchanged at 2.25 per cent in the final monetary policy update for 2025. The move was widely expected by most economists after several positive economic reports, including on GDP, the job market and consumer inflation. The Bank said once again that rates as they stand are “at about the right level” to stimulate the economy while keeping prices stable during the uncertain trade war fueled by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. After the announcement, Governor Tiff Macklem at the central bank was asked about affordability for everyday Canadians. He said even though inflation has come down to ideal levels, “prices have not.” He added that with prices staying relatively stable, what needs to happen next is for the incomes of Canadians to rise to meet where prices are at, and the best way to do this is increase Canada’s overall productivity. Read more about where borrowing costs in Canada are heading next.  Dollarama cashing in As consumers grapple with the high cost of living, many continue to look for value wherever they can, and Dollarama appears to be benefiting. The Montreal-based retailer says in the third quarter its sales jumped 22.2 per cent to $1.9 billion, compared with $1.5 billion during the same period in the previous year. Dollarama said the spike in sales was primarily driven by sustained demand for "consumables," including anything from food items to goods like shampoos, soap and fast-moving consumer goods. Read more about how grocery and other stores are adapting to cost-conscious consumers.  What’s driving up car insurance premiums Car insurance premiums in Canada have been getting more expensive every year since the pandemic, according to government data, and insurance experts believe prices will continue to drive up into 2026. The recent spike in vehicle thefts over the past few years has stood out among the many factors that at least one expert says have contributed to higher prices for insurance premiums. "We see increasing costs in repair shops, increasing wages, auto theft over the last couple of years, so we're also going to see insurance costs increase," says Daniel Ivans, licensed broker and insurance expert at Rates.ca. Even though auto theft rates are going down, some experts say theft related claims cost Canadians about $1 billion per year. That’s in addition to inflation, climate change, the trade war and other factors that are contributing to higher prices for car insurance in Canada. Read more about how much your automotive insurance premiums may be increasing in 2026. | 
0 Komentar untuk "Money123: The Bank of Canada held the line. Car insurance is likely still going up"