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Food Prices Expected to Rise 3-5% in 2025

  A newly released report predicts that food prices in Canada will increase by 3% to 5% in 2025. The report, a collaborative effort by researchers from Dalhousie University, the University of Guelph, the University of Saskatchewan, and the University of British Columbia, forecasts that the average Canadian family of four will spend $16,833.67 on food next year, an increase of up to $801.56 from 2024. The report attributes the rise in food prices to several factors, including climate change, geopolitical conflicts, energy costs, and the weakening Canadian dollar. Meat prices are expected to rise between 4% and 6% due to prolonged droughts affecting cattle production. Vegetable prices are also anticipated to increase faster than other categories due to the lower buying power of Canadian food importers. Despite the projected increase, the report notes that the rate of food price growth has moderated compared to the double-digit increases experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Resea...

S&P 500 Futures Retreat from 6,000 Milestone as Post-Election Rally Eases

 

Premarket Update: The S&P 500 futures have dipped below the 6,000-point mark, cooling off after a significant rally driven by Donald Trump’s presidential election victory and a recent interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve.

On Thursday, the S&P 500 futures surpassed the 6,000 milestone for the first time, buoyed by expectations of a more business-friendly regulatory environment under Trump’s administration and the Fed’s 25 basis point rate cut. However, the momentum has slowed as traders digest the implications of Trump’s proposed fiscal policies, which include expansive spending plans and potential tariff hikes.

Despite the slight pullback, the overall market sentiment remains positive. The Dow and S&P 500 are on track for their best week in nearly a year, while the Nasdaq is set for its best performance in two months. Investors are also keeping an eye on upcoming economic data, including the University of Michigan’s preliminary consumer sentiment survey for November and a speech by Federal Reserve Board Governor Michelle Bowman.

Michael Brown, a senior research strategist at Pepperstone, noted that strong earnings and economic growth, coupled with the Fed’s supportive stance, are expected to continue driving the market higher in the medium term. However, the path forward may be complicated by inflationary pressures stemming from Trump’s fiscal policies.

As the market adjusts to the new political landscape, traders have trimmed expectations for further rate cuts next year, leading to a rise in bond yields. The immediate impact on Wall Street has been relatively muted, with all three major indexes closing around record highs on Thursday.


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