Latest news with #RobRoach
Global News
12-06-2025
- Business
- Global News
Price of beef in Alberta keeps rising, cost linked to cow supply: economist
The rising cost of groceries is something all Albertans are experiencing whether they eat meat or not, but for people in the province who consume beef, the price increase is likely particularly noticeable. In a post on ATB Financial's website this week, the financial institution's deputy chief economist said the increased costs faced by beef consumers are linked to high consumer demand coupled with the decreasing number of cows across the country. He added that because rebuilding the herd will take time, 'beef prices are likely to stay elevated for some time to come.' 'According to Statistics Canada, the Canadian cattle herd hasn't been as small as it was at the start of 2025 since 1988 (1994 in Alberta),' Rob Roach wrote. 'In the United States, the cattle herd is the smallest it has been in 73 years.' Story continues below advertisement View image in full screen Cattle stand in a pasture on a farm in Alberta Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh Roach noted Statistics Canada data reveals that the average price of cattle for slaughter in Alberta was 14 per cent higher in April compared to the same time last year, while the price of cattle for feeding was 26 per cent higher. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'In both cases, the monthly price was the highest it has ever been,' he wrote. The finance chair of a non-profit that represents Alberta beef producers told Global News on Thursday that the people her organization represents have been dealing with the challenges of inflation, drought and wildfires in the last few years. Brenda Rosadiuk of Alberta Beef Producers said some farmers' pastures have burned in wildfires. 'You don't have the forage for your cattle (if it burns),' she explained. 'Your hay land isn't producing. Story continues below advertisement 'It affects your feed (because) you still cover the same amount of land to make your hay. You still have those input costs but you're not getting the production.' Rosadiuk said while Alberta producers are grateful when beef prices are up, they realize there are 'difficult decisions for shoppers now when they go to the grocery store.' 'You have to make good budget decisions,' she acknowledged of the challenges facing consumers. 'The high prices are a boon for the cow/calf sector but can be challenging for the feedlot and packing sectors,' Roach wrote. For people still wanting to eat beef but on a budget, Rosadiuk recommended buying cheaper cuts of beef and then slow cooking them to make them more tender. — with files from Global News' Erik Bay
Calgary Herald
28-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Varcoe: U.S. air travel demand 'has not recovered' yet from Canadians cancelling trips south, says WestJet CEO
Article content 'If I just look into how our next couple of months are booked, then I see sort of mid-to-high teens (percentage) less bookings than there were a year ago,' he said after the speech. Article content The phenomenon of Canadians opting not to travel to the U.S. has been showing up in cross-border travel statistics for several months. Article content The country's largest airline, Air Canada, reported earlier this month that it was seeing booking on transborder markets drop by low teens percentage points, on average, for the following six months. Article content In April, return trips by Canadians by air fell 20 per cent compared with the same month a year earlier, according to Statistics Canada preliminary figures. Article content Return trips by automobile plunged 35 per cent — the fourth straight month of year-over-year declines in both categories. Article content A research note by ATB Economics on Wednesday pointed out the number of Canadians returning from south of the border through the Calgary and Edmonton airports dropped 5.6 per cent during the first four months of 2025 from year-earlier levels. Article content Article content And it's not just Canadian flyers showing their displeasure with the trade war by shifting their travel patterns. Article content Through April, the number of Canadians returning from the U.S. by both air and road fell 22 per cent, and for Alberta, it decreased eight per cent from the same period last year, said ATB deputy chief economist Rob Roach. Article content The trade conflict will lead to more Albertans travelling to other countries outside the U.S., but it will also likely see more consumers taking vacations and spending their tourism dollars inside the country, Roach said in an interview. Article content 'I do think it's a temporary thing, but it will last and go (on) as long as the trade war is hot,' he said Wednesday. Article content 'They are still tariffs and we are one tweet away — or Truth Social post away — from this blowing up again. So, until there's a sense that things are back to normal, I think we'll see this reflected in the actual numbers.' Article content Article content Article content After Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Trump in Washington earlier this month, the annexation discussion subsided from the White House. Article content However, the U.S. president mentioned it again on social media Tuesday, saying Canada could join his country's Golden Dome defence system for $61 billion but it would cost 'ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st state. They are considering our offer!' Article content How long could a travel boycott continue? Article content 'We do assume that at some point in time, there will be some kind of agreement, hopefully,' von Hoensbroech added. Article content 'What we have seen in the past in our industry is that whenever there's a change in demand pattern for political reasons, it's usually transitional, and long-term demand trends usually flow back.' Article content Susan Bell, a senior vice-president with consultancy Rystad Energy, said the decline in travel to the U.S. isn't just coming from Canada, but also from fewer travellers coming from other countries — and it's showing up in less jet fuel demand. Article content About 20 per cent of U.S. aviation fuel demand is typically tied to international flights. Article content
