Business economic outlook has worsened in the third quarter. The continued increases in the policy interest rates (175 basis points hike during the quarter) began to have a cooling effect on the economy. The ongoing labour shortage, downward trend for energy and metal commodity prices, and a depreciation of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar by 2.3%, have increased uncertainty and concerns over an economic slowdown. As prices peaked in the previous quarter and business investments contracted on higher borrowing costs, the profitability of the Canadian corporate sector was negatively impacted in the third ... (full story)