The retail sector could see a pick-up in activity in a post-vaccine world, but COVID-19 may have shifted consumers’ shopping patterns for good, says Scotiabank's retail analyst Patricia Baker.

Scotiabank’s Chief Risk Officer Daniel Moore talks about what it means to be “Chief Worry Officer” for the Bank, a role ever more important during the pandemic, and what he sees coming down the road. 

After an incredibly difficult 2020, the economic outlook for 2021 is brighter, with a new US government ahead and stimulus in bank accounts pointing to a rebound, provided the vaccine rollout and other health measures bring COVID-19 under control.

As COVID cases surge and many restrictions on various types of economic activity are reimposed, stock markets are seeing an upswing as well. Scotiabank’s Vice-President and Head of Capital Markets Economics Derek Holt explains why the markets aren’t reflecting what’s happening with the virus and the main street economy. 

The votes are (almost) in and the US President-Elect is Joe Biden. Scotiabank’s Chief Economist Jean-François Perrault examines the outlook for Canada’s biggest trading partner under Biden and the possible benefits, and drawbacks, for our economy.

With immigration slowing, many Canadians working from home and retail increasingly shifting online, what does that mean for condos, office towers and Main Street shops? Scotiabank’s Senior Economist Marc Desormeaux returns to continue the conversation about COVID-19’s impact on real estate.

Home sales activity and house prices are surging across the country, and not just in Canada’s biggest cities, despite the pandemic. We speak to Scotiabank Senior Economist Marc Desormeaux about what is driving real estate demand, whether remote work is sparking a flight to the suburbs, and how long this upward trajectory could last. 

Businesses in Canada that rely on in-person customers are among the most impacted by COVID-19 related restrictions, which were eased over the summer but are now being re-introduced in several provinces as the weather cools. Scotiabank's Director of Economic Forecasting Nikita Perevalov discusses how hospitality and retail sector businesses are among those taking the biggest hit, while spending on home entertainment and digital services are at higher levels than last year. As well, he adds, the number of Canadian businesses closing up shop for good in an average month is much higher than pre-pandemic, but new businesses continue to launch despite the difficult economic climate.

Canada's latest job numbers for September were relatively strong, with 378,000 jobs created and the unemployment rate now down to 9%. However, the sectors that showed some recovery are now about to be hit again by reimposed restrictions as several provinces face a second wave of COVID-19. Scotiabank's Director of Economic and Fiscal Policy Rebekah Young breaks down the latest jobs numbers and how they compare to pre-pandemic levels, and examines how employment for women, young people and new Canadians is faring. 

Canada is seeing a new surge in COVID-19 cases, especially in Quebec and Ontario, that's leading to renewed restrictions on some kinds of economic activity. Canadians are doing their best to keep their families healthy while dealing with all kinds of financial challenges, with sectors such as hospitality hit hardest. While the latest GDP numbers from July showed some renewed strength, the months ahead will likely be more challenging. Scotiabank's Chief Economist Jean-François Perrault breaks down the pandemic's impact on Canada and its economy, how the federal government has reacted and what the coming months have in store.