Canadian Economic Calendar - March 2020

DateStatisticForCurrent MonthPrevious Month
Monday, March 02, 2020Markit Canada Manufacturing PMI: 9:30 amFebAt 51.8 in February, up from 50.6 in January, the seasonally-adjusted IHS Markit Canada Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI®) registered above the 50.0 no-change value for the sixth consecutive month and pointed to the strongest overall improvement in business conditions since February 2019. The headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Canada Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI®) registered 50.6 in January, up slightly from December's four-month low of 50.4.
Wednesday, March 04, 2020BoC Interest Rate Decision: 11:00amMarThe Bank of Canada today lowered its target for the overnight rate by 50 basis points to 1.25%. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1.5% and the deposit rate is 1%. ---
Friday, March 06, 2020Labour Force Survey: 8:30amFebEmployment was little changed in February, the economy having created 30,000 jobs and the unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percentage points to 5.6%.Employment increased by 35,000, or 0.2%, in January, all in full-time work. The unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage points to 5.5%
Friday, March 06, 2020IVEY Purchasing Managers Index: 10:00amFebThe index skidded to 51.7 in February from January's reading of 57.3, but way above the 50.6 level in February 2019 The Ivey PMI jumped to 57.3 in January from 51.9 in the previous month and 54.7 in January 2019
Friday, March 06, 2020Canadian International Merchandise Trade: 8:30amJanCanada's merchandise exports fell 2.0% in January, while imports were down 0.5%. As a result, Canada's merchandise trade deficit with the world widened from $732 million in December 2019 to $1.5 billion in January.Canada's merchandise exports rose 1.9% in December, while imports edged up 0.2%. As a result, out merchandise trade deficit with the world narrowed from $1.2 billion in November to $370 million in December.
Monday, March 09, 2020Housing Starts: 8:15amFebCanada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reported the trend in housing starts was 208,525 units in February compared to 211,153 units in January. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reported the trend in housing starts was 210,915 units in January, compared to 212,212 units in December.
Monday, March 09, 2020Building Permits: 8:30amJanThe total value of building permits issued by Canadian municipalities increased 4.0% to $9.2 billion in January. The total value of building permits issued by Canadian municipalities increased 7.4% to $8.7 billion in December. Increases were reported in five provinces, led by Ontario (+10.5% to $3.4 billion) and Quebec (+15.8% to $2.2 billion
Monday, March 16, 2020CREAstats - MLS Sales: 8:30amFebCanadian home sales rose 5.9% in February from the previous month, led by a jump in activity in the Greater Toronto Area, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association. The Canadian Real Estate Association said actual sales, not seasonally adjusted, rose 11.5% from a year earlier, while the group's Home Price Index was up 4.7% from January last year.
Tuesday, March 17, 2020Canada's International Transactions in Securities: 8:30amJanForeign investors acquired $17.0 billion of Canadian securities in January. Meanwhile, Canadian investors reduced their holdings of foreign securities by $9.1 billion, following acquisitions of $13.8 billion in December 2019.Canadian investment in foreign securities reached $13.8 billion in December, led by purchases of equity instruments. At the same time, foreign investors reduced their holdings of Canadian securities by $9.6 billion, mainly in the form of bonds
Tuesday, March 17, 2020Monthly Survey of Manufacturing: 8:30amJanManufacturing sales were down 0.2% to $56.1 billion in January, the fifth consecutive monthly declineManufacturing sales declined for the fourth consecutive month, down 0.7% to $56.4 billion in December.
Wednesday, March 18, 2020Consumer Price Index: 8:30amFebCPI rose 2.2% on a year-over-year basis in February, down from a 2.4% increase in January. On a seasonally-adjusted monthly basis, the CPI was up 0.1% in February, matching the increase in January.The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.4% on a year-over-year basis in January, up from a 2.2% increase in December. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the CPI rose 0.1% in January.
Thursday, March 19, 2020Employment Insurance: 8:30amJan---In December, 448,000 people received regular Employment Insurance benefits, little changed from November.
Thursday, March 19, 2020New Housing Price Index: 8:30amFebNew home prices were up 0.4% at the national level in February.New house prices were unchanged in January, following a 0.2% rise in December.
Friday, March 20, 2020Retail Trade: 8:30amJanRetail sales rose for the third consecutive month, up 0.4% to $52.0 billion in January.Retail sales were virtually unchanged at $51.6 billion in December, after growing 1.1% in November.
Monday, March 23, 2020Wholesale Trade: 8:30amJanWholesale sales increased for a second consecutive month, up 1.8% to $65.2 billion in January.Wholesale sales rose 0.9% to $63.9 billion in December, following two consecutive monthly declines
Friday, March 27, 2020Payroll Employment, Earnings and Hours: 8:30amJanThe average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees were $1,051 in January, up 0.6% from the previous month. Year over year, earnings rose 4.0%. Non-farm payroll employees worked an average of 33.0 hours per week in January, up from both the previous month (32.8 hours) and January 2019 (32.6 hours).The average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees were $1,042 in December, little changed from November. On a year-over-year basis, earnings grew 3.4%, the effect of an increase observed from March to October.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020GDP: 8:30amJan---Real gross domestic product increased 0.3% in December, after edging up 0.1% in November, as 15 of 20 industrial sectors grew
Tuesday, March 31, 2020Industrial Product Price Index: 8:30amFeb---The Industrial Product Price Index was down 0.3% in January, driven primarily by lower prices for energy and petroleum products.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020Raw Materials Price Index: 8:30amFeb---The Raw Materials Price Index fell 2.2% because of lower prices for crude energy products.

  • Markit Canada Manufacturing PMI: 9:30 am

    Monday, March 02, 2020

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    At 51.8 in February, up from 50.6 in January, the seasonally-adjusted IHS Markit Canada Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI®) registered above the 50.0 no-change value for the sixth consecutive month and pointed to the strongest overall improvement in business conditions since February 2019.

    Previous Month:
    The headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Canada Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI®) registered 50.6 in January, up slightly from December's four-month low of 50.4.

  • BoC Interest Rate Decision: 11:00am

    Wednesday, March 04, 2020

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    The Bank of Canada today lowered its target for the overnight rate by 50 basis points to 1.25%. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1.5% and the deposit rate is 1%.

    Previous Month:
    ---

  • Labour Force Survey: 8:30am

    Friday, March 06, 2020

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    Employment was little changed in February, the economy having created 30,000 jobs and the unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percentage points to 5.6%.

    Previous Month:
    Employment increased by 35,000, or 0.2%, in January, all in full-time work. The unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage points to 5.5%

  • IVEY Purchasing Managers Index: 10:00am

    Friday, March 06, 2020

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    The index skidded to 51.7 in February from January's reading of 57.3, but way above the 50.6 level in February 2019

    Previous Month:
    The Ivey PMI jumped to 57.3 in January from 51.9 in the previous month and 54.7 in January 2019

  • Canadian International Merchandise Trade: 8:30am

    Friday, March 06, 2020

    For: Jan

    Current Month:
    Canada's merchandise exports fell 2.0% in January, while imports were down 0.5%. As a result, Canada's merchandise trade deficit with the world widened from $732 million in December 2019 to $1.5 billion in January.

    Previous Month:
    Canada's merchandise exports rose 1.9% in December, while imports edged up 0.2%. As a result, out merchandise trade deficit with the world narrowed from $1.2 billion in November to $370 million in December.

  • Housing Starts: 8:15am

    Monday, March 09, 2020

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reported the trend in housing starts was 208,525 units in February compared to 211,153 units in January.

    Previous Month:
    Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reported the trend in housing starts was 210,915 units in January, compared to 212,212 units in December.

  • Building Permits: 8:30am

    Monday, March 09, 2020

    For: Jan

    Current Month:
    The total value of building permits issued by Canadian municipalities increased 4.0% to $9.2 billion in January.

    Previous Month:
    The total value of building permits issued by Canadian municipalities increased 7.4% to $8.7 billion in December. Increases were reported in five provinces, led by Ontario (+10.5% to $3.4 billion) and Quebec (+15.8% to $2.2 billion

  • CREAstats - MLS Sales: 8:30am

    Monday, March 16, 2020

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    Canadian home sales rose 5.9% in February from the previous month, led by a jump in activity in the Greater Toronto Area, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association.

    Previous Month:
    The Canadian Real Estate Association said actual sales, not seasonally adjusted, rose 11.5% from a year earlier, while the group's Home Price Index was up 4.7% from January last year.

  • Canada's International Transactions in Securities: 8:30am

    Tuesday, March 17, 2020

    For: Jan

    Current Month:
    Foreign investors acquired $17.0 billion of Canadian securities in January. Meanwhile, Canadian investors reduced their holdings of foreign securities by $9.1 billion, following acquisitions of $13.8 billion in December 2019.

    Previous Month:
    Canadian investment in foreign securities reached $13.8 billion in December, led by purchases of equity instruments. At the same time, foreign investors reduced their holdings of Canadian securities by $9.6 billion, mainly in the form of bonds

  • Monthly Survey of Manufacturing: 8:30am

    Tuesday, March 17, 2020

    For: Jan

    Current Month:
    Manufacturing sales were down 0.2% to $56.1 billion in January, the fifth consecutive monthly decline

    Previous Month:
    Manufacturing sales declined for the fourth consecutive month, down 0.7% to $56.4 billion in December.

  • Consumer Price Index: 8:30am

    Wednesday, March 18, 2020

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    CPI rose 2.2% on a year-over-year basis in February, down from a 2.4% increase in January. On a seasonally-adjusted monthly basis, the CPI was up 0.1% in February, matching the increase in January.

    Previous Month:
    The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.4% on a year-over-year basis in January, up from a 2.2% increase in December. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the CPI rose 0.1% in January.

  • Employment Insurance: 8:30am

    Thursday, March 19, 2020

    For: Jan

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    In December, 448,000 people received regular Employment Insurance benefits, little changed from November.

  • New Housing Price Index: 8:30am

    Thursday, March 19, 2020

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    New home prices were up 0.4% at the national level in February.

    Previous Month:
    New house prices were unchanged in January, following a 0.2% rise in December.

  • Retail Trade: 8:30am

    Friday, March 20, 2020

    For: Jan

    Current Month:
    Retail sales rose for the third consecutive month, up 0.4% to $52.0 billion in January.

    Previous Month:
    Retail sales were virtually unchanged at $51.6 billion in December, after growing 1.1% in November.

  • Wholesale Trade: 8:30am

    Monday, March 23, 2020

    For: Jan

    Current Month:
    Wholesale sales increased for a second consecutive month, up 1.8% to $65.2 billion in January.

    Previous Month:
    Wholesale sales rose 0.9% to $63.9 billion in December, following two consecutive monthly declines

  • Payroll Employment, Earnings and Hours: 8:30am

    Friday, March 27, 2020

    For: Jan

    Current Month:
    The average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees were $1,051 in January, up 0.6% from the previous month. Year over year, earnings rose 4.0%. Non-farm payroll employees worked an average of 33.0 hours per week in January, up from both the previous month (32.8 hours) and January 2019 (32.6 hours).

    Previous Month:
    The average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees were $1,042 in December, little changed from November. On a year-over-year basis, earnings grew 3.4%, the effect of an increase observed from March to October.

  • GDP: 8:30am

    Tuesday, March 31, 2020

    For: Jan

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    Real gross domestic product increased 0.3% in December, after edging up 0.1% in November, as 15 of 20 industrial sectors grew

  • Industrial Product Price Index: 8:30am

    Tuesday, March 31, 2020

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    The Industrial Product Price Index was down 0.3% in January, driven primarily by lower prices for energy and petroleum products.

  • Raw Materials Price Index: 8:30am

    Tuesday, March 31, 2020

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    The Raw Materials Price Index fell 2.2% because of lower prices for crude energy products.