tends to create a ripple effect in the economy, and economist Kevin Milligan said it's probably a testament to how worn-down the economy and consumers are, particularly at the low end. \n\nIt's probably due to things like investment sloving in the natural resource sector, weakness in stock buybacks in the corporate sector, corporatism. And, of course, (we) have to look at things about what the Bank of Canada is doing, the uncertainty on the horizon in terms of trade, and the exchange rate, and all of these things tend to pull down the economy, particularly the low end." Tweet This\n\nI think the economy in general has been feeling the squeeze of low credit rates, (and) especially low mortgage rates," he said. \n\nStory continues below advertisement\n\nIt's difficult to be selling at rates well below their 10-year average, so I think those effects do come back into the economy as well, and I'd wonder if it's pulling down consumption and investment activity.\n\nConsumers and businesses are really looking for more and more type of stimulus action not just from the Bank of Canada, but from the federal government too, he added. \nHe said they're not getting a message from Canadians about the state of the economy and he thinks many people are wondering if they did get that message from Prime Minister Trudeau in December. \n\n"I'd be happy for people to hear a message, and that has to come through," he said. \n\nDespite the second interest rate hike, Milligan said there's reason to think the odds of an interest rate hike have risen from about one-third to about two-thirds in the first part of next year. \n\nI would, on balance, expect a sustained number of rate hikes - even a third hike." Tweet This\nHe said those predictions are becoming more consistent as well, with a reported saying from economist Chew Ross this week that most economists consider a fourth rate hike a "near certainty" for 2019. \n\nThe optimistic about the economy in Canada. \n\nI think we're probably in the middle of seeing a strong bottom and picking back up on a strong GDP, and we're very much into this directional trend for the economy now that we see." Tweet This\n\nStory continues below advertisement\n\n"I think we're on track for a run of three straight years of zero- to one-per cent of GDP growth, which would be quite strong. And we're not quite back at an extended bottom. \n\nBut I think we were probably hitting close to bottom in the recession in 2009, and we're clearly in that situation. So at some point, you want to move up, and of course, one reason would be another surge in the economy."\n\nIf the possibility of a fourth rate hike in 2019 could help business sentiment going into the federal election, Milligan said heightened expectations are always a good thing. \nHe also said there's more opportunity for the Bank of Canada to announce some form of monetary policy stimulus following the second interest rate hike at its next policy meeting, and financial markets around the world would likely rise in response to such a move. \n\nThe story continues below advertisement\n\n"But if they've absorbed the downside of those rate hikes in other ways, I'm not convinced that they are their biggest concern in terms of their intentions."\n\nBloomberg<\n> A man has been arrested for allegedly crashing into a group of three children walking close to Ariana Grande from London's Electric 6 Club. \n\nThe three-year-olds and their father were walking to the singer's home from London's Shelter Art after the show when they came across a black sports car driving at about 85 mph. \n\nThe unidentified man, who is believed to be the driver of the 'sorry', passed them about 15 or 20 metres suddenly and one child was caught up in a collision at the rear, the Metropolitan Police said. \n\nThe girl was not hit by the car, the Evening Standard reports. \nThe driver, arrested on suspicion of driving while working and driving recklessly, has been released on court bail without further comment. \n\nFollowing the incident, the girl was rushed to hospital with an urgent call for coronary coronary arrest due to severe shock. The child's parents expressed their shock at the "serious" incident, Sky News reports. \n\nThe Queen was targeted': UK Police offer exact timings for 'targeting' terror attack on the Royal Family https://t.co/gCJaqJnaAi - Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) February 13, 2019\n\n