National Business

TORONTO — A new report says that while home prices are down compared with last year, higher mortgage rates mean affordability hasn't improved for Canadians. The report by Ratehub.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wholesale prices in the United States reaccelerated in January, indicating that inflation pressures continue to underlie the U.S. economy despite longer-term signs of improvement.

OTTAWA — Canadian couples looking to save money in retirement may turn to spousal RRSP accounts, though financial experts caution it might not work for everyone. Aba Quarshie, a financial planner at RBC in Almonte, Ont.

Fewer Americans filed for jobless benefits last week despite efforts by the Federal Reserve to loosen the labor market with higher interest rates as it tries to cool the economy. Applications for jobless aid in the U.S. for the week ending Feb.

TORONTO — RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust raised its payment to unitholders as it reported a loss of $5 million in its fourth quarter. The real estate trust says it will now pay a monthly distribution of nine cents per unit, up from 8.5 cents.

MONTREAL — MTY Food Group Inc. reported a fourth-quarter profit of $7.1 million as the acquisition of BBQ Holdings helped its revenue rise 65 per cent compared with a year ago.

For public relations executive Terance Brouse, the office is where creativity flows. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, employees at Maverick PR work from the firm's office — a converted red brick Victorian home in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood.

BEIJING (AP) — China on Thursday imposed trade and investment sanctions on Lockheed Martin and a unit of Raytheon for supplying weapons to Taiwan, stepping up efforts to isolate the island democracy claimed by the ruling Communist Party as part of it

TORONTO — Shopify Inc. executives warned investors and analysts that it is expecting personnel expenses to weigh on its 2023 outlook as it revealed its most recent quarter delivered a loss of US$623.6 million.

TORONTO — Losses in energy on Canada's main stock index were offset by gains in other sectors, with the index posting a minor gain Wednesday, while U.S. markets were also up. The S&P/TSX composite index was up 15.60 points at 20,720.39.