The 10-Minute Take

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time since 2023—and markets are wondering if the Bank of Canada will follow.
The 25-basis-point hike was widely expected after strong U.S. growth and persistent inflation, and it's unlikely to be a one-and-done.
Canada's story is different. Inflation excluding energy sits near the 2% target, and a weak economy is still constraining price pressures.
In this episode of The 10-Minute Take, Claire Fan and Carrie Freestone look at diverging central bank paths in Canada and the United States, and what could derail forecasts.

Business investment in Canada rebounded in Q2 after stagnating for more than a year as AI infrastructure related spending ramped up, and weak oil and gas spending recovered.
An unprecedented AI buildout continues to power private investment in the U.S., though rising bond yields are pushing up borrowing costs.
In this episode of The 10-Minute Take, RBC Economics’ Claire Fan and Carrie Freestone discuss investment trends reshaping Canada and the U.S., and what to expect heading into 2027.

U.S.-Canada trade talks have broken down followed by new tariffs from each side. At the same time, 30-year U.S. Treasury yields hit their highest level since 2007—driven by persistent inflation concerns, and a national debt crossing US$40 trillion.
In this episode of the 10-Minute Take, RBC Economics' Claire Fan and Carrie Freestone discuss:
What the latest tariffs and the counter measures mean for the broader Canadian economy.
Why 30-year Treasury yields are at two-decade highs, and what its buyback program can and can’t fix.
How inflation, fiscal deficits, and rising interest costs are creating a challenging bind for the U.S.

Canadians’ spending heated up fast this summer. Excluding autos and gasoline stations, total purchases saw the largest quarterly increase in four years despite headwinds from tariffs and a soft labour market.
What underpinned the strength in Q2? Did the increase vary across different age groups? What role did the FIFA World Cup play? And, where do we see spending heading later this year?
In this episode of The 10-Minute Take, Claire Fan sits down with economists Abbey Xu and Rachel Battaglia, co-authors of the Q2 RBC Consumer Spending Signals report, to break down the latest trends and what they mean for the Canadian economy.
Watch or listen to our newest episode here or wherever you get your podcasts.

Rising consumer prices since the pandemic have added to significant cost-of-living challenges for households in North America.
Prices for essential items like food and shelter in Canada and the U.S. have risen at a faster pace since 2020 than average hourly income, limiting the growth in households’ purchasing power.
Those challenges have moderated in recent years, but the path has not been even. In 2026, soaring global oil prices, and fuel costs at home once again raised consumer prices, but the central banks have not rushed to react.
Join us in this special podcast and video edition of the 10-Minute Take, where RBC Economics’ Carrie Freestone and Claire Fan break down cost-of-living challenges.
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