Rising cost of groceries, increased interest rates and skyrocketing gas prices: the year 2022 has not been easy for the wallets of Quebecers.
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An economist by training, Mario Dumont decided to bring together Isabelle Maréchal, Francis Gosselin and Philippe Richard Bertrand to carry out his economic review of the year. Besides, the word inflation was probably among the most pronounced in 2022.
The quartet agreed that Ukraine has a broad back and that inflation is not caused solely by the conflict between that country and Russia. “There are monetary policies that have caused control to be lost,” said Mr. Bertrand.
With regard to the real estate sector, Mr.me Maréchal spoke of the outbidding at the beginning of the year in this market. She also reported that Canada climbed on the second step of the world podium with regard to the growth of real estate prices. “There’s just New Zealand where property prices have gone up so much.”
For his part, Mr. Bertrand had a thought for certain consumers who can no longer make ends meet. As for him, Mr. Gosselin mentioned the lack of housing in the province.
The stock market, the labor shortage, the difficulty of businesses, particularly those in the restaurant and hotel industry, were among the other topics discussed. Finally, Mario Dumont’s guests talked regarding some companies that have done well for the right…and the wrong reasons.