Statistics Canada has released two studies that shed light on several of these labour market developments. The first research article, titled “Permanent Layoff Rates in Canada, 1978 to 2016,” analyzes the evolution of permanent layoff rates in Canada from 1978 to 2016, the last year for which data on permanent layoffs are currently available. The second research article, titled “The Changing Job Landscape, 1981 to 2019,” … Read more
Investment in building construction plunged 45.9 per cnet to $8.4 billion in April compared with the previous month. Previously, the largest national decline on record for the current series (which dates back to 2010) was a 3.9 per cent decrease in August 2017. Both the residential (-49.2 per cent) and non-residential (-38.8 per cent) sectors reported record declines. Investment decreased in … Read more
Statistics Canada released figures on Retail trade, April 2020 Retail sales were down by just over one-quarter (-26.4 per cent) in April to $34.7 billion. Motor vehicle and parts dealers took the largest hit, while online sales surged to a record high, representing 9.5 per cent of the total retail market in April. The full release … Read more
As the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to spread throughout the economy, wholesale sales plummeted an unprecedented 21.6 per cent to $49.8 billion in April, the lowest level since July 2013. All seven subsectors recorded lower sales for the first time since November 2008. In dollar terms, the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector contributed the most … Read more
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell 0.4 per cent on a year-over-year basis in May, down from a 0.2 per cent decline in April. Excluding gasoline, the CPI rose 0.7 per cent, the smallest increase since January 2013. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the CPI increased 0.1 per cent in May. Among the major components, the transportation index (+2.7 per cent) was the only one to increase, … Read more
Foreign investment in Canadian securities reached a record-high of $49.0 billion in April, all in debt securities. Meanwhile, Canadian divestment in foreign securities eased considerably to $134 million, following a record-level divestment in March. As a result, Canada’s international transactions in securities generated a record net inflow of funds in the Canadian economy of $49.2 billion in April, … Read more
Manufacturing sales fell by a record 28.5 per cent to $36.4 billion in April, following a 9.8 per cent decline in March. April marked the first full month of physical distancing measures in the wake of COVID-19 and manufacturing plants operated at limited capacity or ceased operations completely. Sales were down in all 21 industries, led by sharp declines in the transportation … Read more
National net worth, the sum of national wealth and Canada’s net foreign asset position, fell to $12,640.3 billion in the first quarter, down $126.9 billion from the fourth quarter of 2019. The value of equity and investment funds declined sharply, while currency and deposits recorded the largest quarterly increase on record as the household savings rate jumped and … Read more
Canada’s net foreign asset position decreased by $77.3 billion to $934.2 billion at the end of the first quarter. While the decline in the net position could be qualified as modest, both international assets and liabilities decreased substantially in the quarter as equity markets fell sharply in March. Following a few weeks of uncertainty and volatility as the … Read more
The number of US travellers entering Canada by automobile through Integrated Primary Inspection Lines land ports was down 96 per cent compared with May 2019. A comparably large decline occurred in the number of Canadians returning from the United States by automobile through these ports, dropping 95 per cent in May compared with the same month a year earlier. The Canada-US border closure, … Read more
