In this edition:
- Inflation rises to 1.9% on back of increasing energy costs
- Niagara Region to pay for Merritt Island makeover in Welland
- Markets trim bets on Bank of Canada interest rate cut after inflation ticks back up
- New real estate listings jump to start 2025 as tariff uncertainty weighs on sales
- Grocery industry leaders weigh in on Made in Canada
- US tariffs spark devastating Canadian travel boycott threatening Michigan’s tourism industry
- Focus on Health & Safety
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Photo credit: Monster Ztudio / Adobe Stock
Inflation rises to 1.9% on back of increasing energy costs
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 1.9% year over year in January, following an increase of 1.8% in December. Excluding gasoline, the CPI rose 1.7%.
In January, increased energy prices, notably for gasoline and natural gas, contributed the most to the acceleration. These price increases were partly offset by continued downward pressure on prices for products affected by the goods and services tax (GST)/harmonized sales tax (HST) break introduced in December.
Picture credit: Niagara Geopark
Niagara Region to pay for Merritt Island makeover in Welland
Merritt Island will undergo a $7.7-million makeover as Niagara Region expands its Welland water treatment plant.
The City of Welland will sell part of the 25-hectare island that holds the Pope Francis Centre building, parking lot and playground area to the region.
Picture credit: standret / Adobe Stock
Markets trim bets on Bank of Canada interest rate cut after inflation ticks back up
Rising energy costs pushed Canada’s inflation rate up to 1.9 per cent in January despite a national GST holiday, Statistics Canada said on Tuesday.
The slight acceleration in both headline and core measures of inflation had markets trimming bets that the Bank of Canada will cut its policy rate next month.
Photo credit: Andy Dean / Adobe Stock
New real estate listings jump to start 2025 as tariff uncertainty weighs on sales
Canadian MLS® Systems posted a double-digit jump in new supply in January 2025 when compared to December 2024. At the same time, sales activity fell off at the end of the month, likely reflecting uncertainty over the potential for a trade war with the United States.
Picture credit: Pixel-Shot / Adobe Stock
Grocery industry leaders offer thoughts on Made in Canada
The threat of U.S. tariffs continues to hang over the grocery industry, and Canada continues to grapple with what lies ahead. Grocery industry leaders from across the country are voicing their thoughts. Here is a roundup of some recent statements from industry leaders.
Picture credit: Focused Adventures / Adobe Stock
US tariffs spark devastating Canadian travel boycott threatening Michigan’s tourism industry
US tariffs have triggered a devastating Canadian travel boycott, putting Michigan’s tourism industry at risk with potential revenue losses and economic turmoil.
The recent announcement of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods has ignited a strong backlash among Canadian travelers, leading to widespread cancellations of vacations to the United States. Michigan, a state that relies heavily on Canadian tourists, stands to lose millions in revenue as a result of this growing boycott.
Focus on Health & Safety
Workplace safety is stagnant. Many EHS leaders believe AI could be the fix
Over half of environmental health and safety (EHS) leaders report injury frequency (53 per cent) and severity (51 per cent) have either remained stagnant or worsened over the past year, according to Benchmark Gensuite’s 2025 EHS Benchmarking report.
The proprietary research was released today and is based on a survey of over 100 EHS professionals across multiple industries. The report highlights persistent challenges—such as workforce turnover, insufficient training, and underreporting—and explores the critical role of AI in addressing these issues.
Through the Daily Updates, the GNCC aims to deliver important business news in a timely manner. We disseminate all news and information we feel will be important to businesses. Inclusion in the Daily Update is not an endorsement by the GNCC.
