The Economic Brief
The Bank of Canada kept its overnight rate on hold again this week at 2.25%. Senior Economist Andrew Grantham considers what the Bank might do next as it weighs the effects of a changing policy landscape on economic growth.
Welcome to CIBC Thought Leadership
Explore the latest insights, reports, and timely topics affecting economic growth at home and around the world.
In Focus
Capital spending and investment in Canada: Seven half-truths and myths
Next month, the prime minister will bring together business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to further his aim of positioning Canada as open and ready for direct foreign investment. Ahead of the Canada Investment Summit, CIBC Chief Economist Avery Shenfeld looks at seven commonly repeated truths, half-truths and outright myths on topics tied to capital spending in this country, and what they mean for investment now and in the future.
The Innovation Economy
The Gradient Ascent Podcast: Part 2 – Why enterprise AI adoption is still so hard
In this second part of the latest episode of The Gradient Ascent Podcast, CIBC’s Paul McKinlay and Daniel Lee continue their discussion with George Babu and Gideon Hayden with a look at impediments to widespread AI adoption among businesses and what may finally move the needle.
Drivers of Growth
Canadian businesses continue to demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and momentum despite ongoing trade uncertainty. As we move into the second half of the year, senior Commercial Banking leaders discuss how clients are finding opportunities, building on their strengths, and positioning for growth, and how we can help them succeed in an evolving landscape.
Drivers of Growth
A growing revolution in Ontario’s greenhouse alley
Between 2016 and 2021, Southwestern Ontario’s greenhouse footprint expanded by more than 40 million square feet. Dan Murtha, Director & Team Leader of Agriculture and Commercial Banking in Southwestern Ontario, tells us what will fuel even more growth over the next decade.
Drivers of Growth
Adopting AI: Driving growth and innovation for SMEs
AI offers transformative potential for SMEs, but determining the right approach can be a complex process. Dave Gillespie, Executive Vice-President of Infrastructure, Architecture and Modernization, offers his insights for developing an AI strategy.
Drivers of Growth
Agricultural evolution: How farmers are transforming the sector for long-term success
Farmers in Canada recognize that modernizing and professionalizing their operations are keys to long-term success. With that in mind, here are five top trends behind the industry’s evolution, with technology, modernization, and scalability driving the sector toward greater economic resilience.
Explore our Series
Latest Podcasts
Eyes on the Economy • EP42
Play podcast: The truth about capital spending
CIBC Economist, Helen Lao, interviews Chief Economist, Avery Shenfeld, to unpack the truths and the myths surrounding capital spending and investment in Canada.
Eyes on the Economy | EP42The truth about capital spending
CIBC Insights
Beneath the surface: Canada’s submarine strategy
CIBC’s Amber Batool and Krista Friesen discuss Canada’s next-generation submarine procurement and the broader strategy behind it. Their conversation examines how this major defence decision reflects shifting national security priorities, a faster approach to procurement and a growing focus on building long-term industrial and economic benefits in Canada.
Eyes on the Economy
Canadian consumers: Ready to spend again?
CIBC’s Avery Shenfeld sits down with Andrew Grantham to examine the forces that have kept consumer spending softer than hoped until recently, and why the outlook heading into 2027 may be encouraging.
The Sustainability Agenda
Inside Oncor and ERCOT’s response to Texas’ surging power demand
Geoffrey Bailey of Oncor joins host Tom Heintzman to discuss Texas’ response to surging electricity demand, particularly from data centers, ERCOT’s evolving approach to interconnection and transmission planning, and Oncor’s infrastructure expansion and grid innovations to support continued growth.
Canadian housing: Anatomy of a correction
This In Focus report analyzes the housing market correction underway in Canada. Given the importance of the housing market to the economy, the current weakness in activity along with falling prices have clear negative macroeconomic implications.Benchmark Home Price
28%
In Ontario, the benchmark price is 28% below the trendlineCondo Market
35%
Condo prices nationally are 35% below the trendlineLatest Videos
The Economic Brief
The Bank of Canada kept its overnight rate on hold again this week at 2.25%. Senior Economist Andrew Grantham considers what the Bank might do next as it weighs the effects of a changing policy landscape on economic growth.
The Innovation Economy
The Gradient Ascent Podcast: Part 1 – The future of Canadian startups: AI, capital and brain drain
In this episode, CIBC’s Paul McKinlay and Daniel Lee sit down with George Babu and Gideon Hayden to explore what it takes to build enduring AI companies today. They also dig into a bigger question for Canada’s tech ecosystem: how do we keep top founders building at home when talent, capital and ambition move globally?
The Innovation Economy
The Gradient Ascent Podcast: Part 2 – Why enterprise AI adoption is still so hard
In this second part of the latest episode of The Gradient Ascent Podcast, CIBC’s Paul McKinlay and Daniel Lee continue their discussion with George Babu and Gideon Hayden with a look at impediments to widespread AI adoption among businesses and what may finally move the needle.
An Inclusive Society
Blended finance: Bringing capital together for community impact
The not-for-profit sector is a major contributor to the Canadian economy – it provides everything from vital social services to arts festivals, literacy programs and sports clubs. The sector can benefit greatly from the blended finance ecosystem, which combines capital from a variety of sources – public, private, philanthropic – to fund programming for social and environmental good. Recently, Kyle McLean, Market Vice-President in the Public Sector and Not for Profit Group at CIBC, sat down with industry experts to discuss what blended finance means for them and why it’s so important for the not-for-profit sector.
CIBC Economics
18%
With women representing a sizeable share of the workforce, making full use of their potential is vital for Canada’s economy. As Senior Economist Katherine Judge discusses in her latest report, while there has been some improvement, there is still plenty of work ahead in addressing a well-known gap in earnings for mothers in the workforce.
In Focus
Capital spending and investment in Canada: Seven half-truths and myths
Next month, the prime minister will bring together business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to further his aim of positioning Canada as open and ready for direct foreign investment. Ahead of the Canada Investment Summit, CIBC Chief Economist Avery Shenfeld looks at seven commonly repeated truths, half-truths and outright myths on topics tied to capital spending in this country, and what they mean for investment now and in the future.
In Focus
How bad is it? Productivity and prosperity in Canada versus the US
Our latest In Focus article looks at the degree to which Canada’s lagging performance in growth in real GDP per capita or per hour in recent decades has translated into a gap in economic wellbeing for Canadians versus their American counterparts.
In Focus
Trade diversification: a good idea but not a game changer
The latest In Focus report discusses progress in Canada’s trade diversification efforts and implications for profit volatility, margins, and capital investment.
In Focus
Canadian housing: Anatomy of a correction
This In Focus report analyzes the housing market correction underway in Canada. Given the importance of the housing market to the economy, the current weakness in activity along with falling prices have clear negative macroeconomic implications.
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CIBC Ambitions Index 2026
Read about how Canadian ambitions are changing in this second edition of our annual index.
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