Skip to main content

Featured

Markets Digest Hot U.S. Inflation as Iran Tensions Keep Oil Elevated

Publication:  moneysavings.ca / Canadian Money Brief  Date:  Tuesday, May 13, 2026 The TSX opens cautiously Wednesday after hotter-than-expected U.S. CPI data rattled Wall Street on Tuesday, while Strait of Hormuz disruptions continue to lift energy stocks and pressure the loonie toward 1.35 against the greenback. TSX ~34,291 S&P 500 7,400.96 ▼0.16% WTI Oil ~$102/bbl ▲ Gold ~$4,721 USD/oz ▼ USD/CAD ~1.35 US CPI Apr 3.8% ▲ (est. 3.7%) Market Overview Canadian investors are starting Wednesday on a cautious note following a mixed session south of the border. U.S. equities dipped Tuesday after April's consumer price index came in at 3.8% — a touch above the 3.7% consensus forecast and the highest reading since May 2023 — while the core rate held at 2.8%, also above expectations. The data has effectively closed the door on any Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2026, with traders now pricing in a roughly 70% chance of a rate hike by April 2027. For Canadians, the ripple effects...

article

New Mortgage Policies Expected to Drive Canadian Home Prices Higher in 2025

 

According to a recent analysis by TD Economics, new federal mortgage policies are set to boost Canadian home prices in 2025. These policies, which include raising the cap on insured mortgages and extending amortization periods for first-time homebuyers, are expected to provide a secondary tailwind to the housing market.

The new measures, effective December 15, 2024, will increase the insured mortgage cap from $1 million to $1.5 million, allowing more Canadians to qualify for mortgages with lower down payments. Additionally, first-time homebuyers and purchasers of new builds will be able to take out loans with a 30-year amortization period.

TD Economics predicts that these changes will result in home sales and average prices being two to four percentage points higher by the end of 2025 than they would have been without the new policies. However, the report also warns that the initial boost in affordability may erode over time, potentially slowing sales volume and price growth by the end of 2026.

While these policies are not expected to trigger a housing boom on their own, they will complement lower interest rates and improving economic conditions, contributing to a more robust housing market. The changes come amid an ongoing affordability crisis driven by population growth, sluggish new construction, and inflation.

Overall, the new federal mortgage policies aim to make homeownership more accessible to Canadians, particularly younger generations, while also addressing the broader housing market challenges.


Comments