Chapter 1: Economic Forecast 2026: Insights from BMO's Chief Economist

Al sat down with Douglas Porter, Chief Economist at BMO, to unpack the top 3 economic stories of 2025, and to look at the year ahead in Canada’s economy. He also offers some helpful insights for Canadian small business owners.

Chapter 2: Reflecting on 2025 with Sean McCormick: A Flat Holiday Spend and Its Implications

Data Expert Sean McCormick joins Al to break down the latest holiday consumer spending trends. Was spending up, down, or flat this year? Which provinces came out on top? Which days were the busiest—and has Boxing Day lost its traditional shopping momentum? Get these answers and more insights in the full conversation.

Chapter 3: AI and Retail Evolution: Preparing for 2026 with Mastercard’s Benjamin Jacob

Don't miss our chat with MasterCard's Benjamin Jacob on the evolving consumer behavior and adaptive economies. Discover how AI and strategic spending are revolutionizing the way Canadians shop!

Links of Interest:

• BMO
• BMO Capital Markets
• Moneris Data Services
• Mastercard
• Mastercard Small Business Resources

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Introduction
• 00:01:13 - Chapter 1: Economic Forecast 2026: Insights from BMO's Chief Economist
• 00:11:34 - Chapter 2: Reflecting on 2025 with Sean McCormick: A Flat Holiday Spend and Its Implications
• 00:19:13 - Chapter 3: AI and Retail Evolution: Preparing for 2026 with Mastercard’s Benjamin Jacob
• 00:28:08 - Outro

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If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.

Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.