News Releases

- Fifty-two per cent plan on giving money this holiday season; 49 per cent will donate food/other items; 23 per cent will volunteer

- Seventy-seven per cent of Canadians donated in 2013

- Average donation amount in 2013 was $580, up from $557 in 2012

- The majority of Canadians claim to be knowledgeable about the TFSA, however just 11 per cent can identify eligible investments and only 19 per cent know the new annual contribution limit

- TFSA holders plan to contribute an average of $3,625 this year

- Cash is the most common component being held in TFSAs, followed by mutual funds and GICs

- Two-thirds of Canadians believe there will be a market correction in the next decade

- Canadians' interest in purchasing Guaranteed Income Certificates increases significantly as the return on investment also increases

- Many Canadians believe GICs help provide peace of mind and ease of budgeting

- Majority of Canadians wait until the new year to start thinking about their income tax return

- Eighty-eight per cent feel they are familiar with income tax issues

- However, the majority of Canadians remain unfamiliar with key income tax deadlines, including those related to charitable donations, final RRSP contributions and TFSA withdrawals

- Calgary holds title of strongest major housing market while Toronto defies predictions of crash and Vancouver market springs back to life

- Affordability and job growth support Montreal housing market

- BMO Housing Market Scorecard suggests markets favour "buyers'" in Montreal, "sellers'" in Calgary and are generally "balanced" in Toronto and Vancouver

BMO Economics Report 'A Tale of Four Cities' examines the state of Canada's four largest housing markets

BMO Economics Report "Tale of Four Cities" examines the state of Canada's four largest housing markets

- Calgary housing prices sit at an affordable four-times median family income

- Immigrants and young Canadians flocking to the city, drawn by better job prospects and rising wages

- BMO Housing Market Scorecard indicates a "sellers" market for Calgary

BMO Economics Report "Tale of Four Cities" examines the state of Canada's four largest housing markets

- Benchmark prices currently sit at more than six-times the median family income -- pricey for many potential buyers

- Condo prices weaken modestly amidst record supply levels

- BMO Housing Market Scorecard indicates a "balanced" Toronto market

BMO Economics Report "Tale of Four Cities" examines the state of Canada's four largest housing markets

- Vancouver home sales vaulted 50 per cent from earlier lows to near normal levels

- Housing prices sitting at eight times the median income - the highest among the four largest cities

- Vancouver swings from "buyers" market to "balanced" according to BMO Housing Market Scorecard

The strategy's focus will be to identify high growth franchises in order to generate returns through a balance of growth and income and will be led by Christopher Darling

New funds offer maturity guarantee on principal with automatic monthly resets to lock in gains, balanced ETF investment options and death benefit guarantee

- Canadians plan to spend $689 on holiday travel

- Domestic holiday travel remains most popular

- Intent among Canadians to shop on Cyber Monday increases 11 per cent from 2012

- Digital wallets growing in popularity as 50 per cent of Canadians plan to shop online this holiday season

- Fifty-five per cent of Canadian seniors give themselves an "A" or "B" compared to 45 per cent of Canadians overall

- However, with how capital gains and dividends are taxed, almost 80 per cent of Canadians aged 45+ either have it wrong or do not know

- More than 40 per cent of Boomers do not comprehend the tax implications of making a withdrawal from a RRIF

Writing a story on retirement or investing? Need some background, a quote or a different perspective?

Call the BMO RRSP Media Hotline at 1-866-298-8385 or e-mail Veronica Bart at veronica.bart@bmo.com

- Intent among Canadians to shop on Cyber Monday increases 11 per cent from 2012

- Digital wallets growing in popularity as 50 per cent of Canadians plan to shop online this holiday season

Crucial funding raised for CF research and care in Toronto

- Black Friday shopping among Canadians approaching Boxing Day's popularity

- Canadians planning to spend an average of $292 on Black Friday sales, with Atlantic Canadians expected to spend the most

- BMO Economics forecasts an increase of nearly two per cent in holiday retail sales

- Regina tops the list, followed by Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon

- Ranking looks at income, job prospects, housing affordability, taxes

- BMO report shows hiring intentions of small business owners

- Almost two-thirds identify personal finances as the top issue on their minds

- Twenty-two per cent focus on vacation planning and other leisure pursuits; 14 per cent focus on their love life

- Fifty-nine per cent have a financial plan, down five per cent from last year

Expands longstanding partnership between BMO and the CHL

Lanny McDonald and Jim Peplinski named Head Coaches

Mike Vernon, Joel Otto, Paul Reinhart named Assistant Coaches

Tickets Available for Public Sale Now

- Three-quarters of high-net worth Canadians are either donating the same or more than before the 2008 recession

- They will be giving an average of $5,217 to charitable causes this year

- Health, children's charities and community projects are among their favourite causes to support

- Consumer spending expected to grow at a modest 2 per cent through the holiday season

- Lack of blockbuster items weigh on North American toy sales

- Promotional battle expected in the retail apparel space