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5 Things to Know Today: The Money News Shaping Your Week

5 Things to Know Today: The Money News Shaping Your Week 1. Canada’s Economy Grew Faster Than Expected Canada’s economy expanded at an annualized 2.6% in Q4, driven by stronger household spending, exports, and business investment. 2. Manitoba Fast‑Tracks Major Infrastructure Projects A new federal‑provincial agreement introduces a “one project, one review” system to accelerate ports, highways, and energy corridors. 3. Job Market Shows a Small but Positive Uptick Canada added 14,000 jobs in March, with wages rising 4.7% — a key factor ahead of the Bank of Canada’s April 29 rate decision. 4. Oil Markets Remain Volatile After Hormuz Reopening Iran has reopened the Strait of Hormuz, but analysts warn global oil markets may take time to stabilize. 5. Canadians Face Rising Affordability Pressures More Canadians are turning to budgeting tools as inflation, energy costs, and housing pressures persist.
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Retail Sales Flat in April, Missing Expectations

American shoppers are showing signs of spending fatigue, with retail sales data for April coming in sharply below expectations. According to the Commerce Department, U.S. retail sales were unchanged from March, missing the anticipated 0.4% increase that economists surveyed by the Journal had expected. This slowdown follows a 0.6% month-over-month increase seen in March, highlighting concerns about the state of the consumer amid sticky inflation and higher interest rates.

Key Points:

  • Flat Retail Sales: In April, retail sales remained stagnant, failing to meet the projected growth.
  • Excluding Auto and Gas: Sales declined by 0.1%, falling short of the expected 0.1% increase.
  • Sector Performance:
    • Nonstore retailers led the declines, dropping 1.2% from the previous month.
    • Sporting goods and hobby stores also declined by 0.9%.
    • Clothing and accessories stores saw a 1.6% rise in sales.
    • Gasoline sales picked up by 3.1%.
  • Economic Context: Economists are closely monitoring consumer spending amid the Federal Reserve’s pivot to keep interest rates high for longer than expected.

This situation underscores the delicate balance between consumer demand, inflation, and monetary policy. As we await further context, it’s clear that retail sales are a critical indicator to watch in the current economic landscape.


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