Skip to main content

Featured

Rate Watch: Best GIC, Savings and Mortgage Rates in Canada (Nov 13, 2026)

  Rate Watch | Canadian Money Brief Best GIC, Savings and Mortgage Rates in Canada Today Friday, November 13, 2026 • Bank of Canada rate 2.50% • Prime 4.70% The Bank of Canada raised its policy rate to 2.50% on October 28. Savers saw very little of it: GIC rates barely moved, and big-bank savings accounts still pay next to nothing. Borrowers saw more of it: the lowest 5-year fixed mortgage rate crept up from 4.34% to 4.44% after bond yields jumped. Here is where the best rates sit today. 4.05% Best 1-yr GIC WealthONE 4.55% Best 5-yr GIC WealthONE 2.85% Top HISA (no promo) WealthONE / Saven 4.44% Lowest 5-yr fixed insured mortgage 3.60%+ Lowest 5-yr variable insured mortgage Best GIC Rates Term Best rate Provider Runner-up 1 year 4.05% WealthONE Bank of Canada Achieva Financial 3.95% 2 years 4.30% WealthONE Bank of Canada Achieva Financial 4.10% 3 years 4.40% WealthONE Bank of Canada MCAN, Oaken, Saven 4.30% 5 years 4.55% WealthONE Bank of Canada Oaken Financial 4.50% Big banks, 1 y...

article

Japan Sinks into Recession and Loses Its Position in the Global Economy

 

In a significant economic shift, Japan has slipped from its position as the world’s third-largest economy, falling behind Germany. The latest government data reveals that Japan’s economy contracted in the last quarter of 2023, leading to this change in ranking.

For over a decade, Japan held the second spot, but it ceded that position to China. Now, it faces another setback as Germany surpasses it. Here are the key points:

  1. Economic Contraction: Japan’s real GDP shrank by 0.1% in the final quarter of 2023, primarily due to weak spending by households and businesses. Private consumption, which accounts for more than half of economic activity, fell by 0.2% as households grappled with rising living costs and stagnant wages.

  2. Yen’s Impact: The sharp decline of the Japanese yen against the US dollar over the past two years played a crucial role. A weaker yen affects export profits when earnings are repatriated. Germany, too, faces similar challenges, despite being Europe’s largest economy.

  3. Structural Reforms Needed: Japan’s labor crunch is worse than Germany’s, and addressing the low birthrate remains a challenge. The government emphasizes structural reforms, including promoting full-time work for women and easing barriers to foreign investment.

  4. Technical Recession: With two consecutive quarters of contraction, Japan officially enters a technical recession. The country must navigate economic headwinds while welcoming a record number of foreign workers.

While the loss of its global ranking is a blow, Japan remains resilient. As it grapples with demographic shifts and economic complexities, policymakers strive to steer the nation toward sustainable growth.


Comments