Canadian Economic Calendar - May 2020

DateStatisticForCurrent MonthPrevious Month
Friday, May 1, 2020Markit Canada Manufacturing PMI: 9:30 amAprAt 33.0 in April, the PMI was down sharply from 46.1 in March, to signal a rapid decline in manufacturing sector business conditions.The economic activity in Canada's manufacturing sector contracted at a strong pace in March with the Markit Manufacturing PMI slumping to 46.1 from 51.8 in February.
Tuesday, May 5, 2020Canadian International Merchandise Trade: 8:30amMarCanada's merchandise exports fell 4.7%, while imports declined 3.5%. As a result, Canada's trade deficit widened from $894 million in February to $1.4 billion in March.Canada's merchandise exports rose 0.5% in February, while imports were down 0.8%. As a result, Canada's merchandise trade deficit with the world narrowed from $1.7 billion in January to $983 million in February.
Thursday, May 7, 2020IVEY Purchasing Managers Index: 10:00amAprThe index fell yet again in April to 22.8 from March's reading of 26, and way down from April 2019's level of 55.9.The index tumbled to 26.0 in March, far below the 54.1 reading in February and the 54.3 level it displayed in March 2019
Friday, May 8, 2020Labour Force Survey: 8:30amAprFollowing a drop of over one million in March, employment fell by nearly two million in April, bringing the total employment decline since the beginning of the COVID-19 economic shutdown to over three millionEmployment fell by 1,011,000, or 5.3% in March, raising the unemployment rate 2.2 percentage points to 7.8%.
Friday, May 8, 2020Housing Starts: 8:15amAprThe trend in housing starts was 199,589 units in April 2020, down from 204,899 units in March 2020. Excluding Québec, the trend was 155,995 units in April 2020, up from 153,463 units in March 2020. CMHC reported March housing starts registered at 195,200, compared to the expected 172,500, and to 210,100 in February
Friday, May 8, 2020Building Permits: 8:30amMarThe total value of building permits issued by Canadian municipalities decreased 13.1% to $7.4 billion in March, with declines reported in seven provinces and two territories. The $1.1 billion national decrease was the largest since August 2014.The total value of building permits issued by Canadian municipalities decreased 7.3% to $8.6 billion in February, driven by the residential component. Declines were reported in five provinces, with the largest decrease reported in British Columbia (-39.2% to $1.3 billion).
Thursday, May 14, 2020Monthly Survey of Manufacturing: 8:30amMarManufacturing sales fell 9.2% to $50.8 billion in March, the lowest level since June 2016 and the largest percentage decline since December 2008, during the previous recession.Manufacturing sales increased 0.5% to $56.2 billion in February, following five consecutive monthly decreases. The growth was mainly due to higher sales in the transportation equipment industry.
Friday, May 15, 2020Canada's International Transactions in Securities: 8:30amMar------
Friday, May 15, 2020CREAstats - MLS Sales: 8:30amAprHome sales recorded over Canadian MLS® Systems dropped by a record 56.8% in April 2020 compared to an already weakened March, with a majority of sellers and buyers having seemingly moved off to the sidelines during the COVID-19 lockdown.Home sales recorded over Canadian MLS® Systems dropped by 14.3% in March 2020 compared to February, as the economic turmoil and physical distancing rules surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic caused both buyers and sellers to increasingly retreat to the sidelines over the second half of the month.
Wednesday, May 20, 2020Wholesale Trade: 8:30amMarWholesale sales fell 2.2% to $63.9 billion in March, following three consecutive monthly gains.Wholesale sales rose 0.7% to $67.5 billion in February, a third consecutive monthly gain.
Wednesday, May 20, 2020Consumer Price Index: 8:30amAprCPI fell 0.2% on a year-over-year basis in April, down from a 0.9% increase in March. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the CPI fell 0.7% in April, following a 0.9% decline in March.The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.9% on a year-over-year basis in March, down from a 2.2% increase in February. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the CPI declined 0.9% in March, following a 0.1% gain in February.
Thursday, May 21, 2020Employment Insurance: 8:30amMar------
Thursday, May 21, 2020New Housing Price Index: 8:30amAprNew home prices were unchanged at the national level in April following two consecutive monthly increases.New home prices were up 0.3% at the national level in March.
Friday, May 22, 2020Retail Trade: 8:30amMarRetail sales fell for the first time in five months, plunging 10.0% to $47.1 billion in March. This marked the largest drop on record and the lowest level since November 2016.Retail sales rose for the fourth consecutive month, up 0.3% to $52.2 billion in February.
Thursday, May 28, 2020Payroll Employment, Earnings and Hours: 8:30amMarIn March, payroll employment in Canada decreased by 914,500 (-5.4%) compared with February, in line with the 5.3% decrease in total employment observed in the Labour Force Survey.The average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees were $1,046 in February, little changed from January. On a year-over-year basis, earnings rose 3.7%, mostly the result of increases observed from May to October 2019.
Friday, May 29, 2020Industrial Product Price Index: 8:30amAprThe Industrial Product Price Index fell 2.3% in April, mostly because of lower prices for refined petroleum products.The Industrial Product Price Index was down 0.9% in March, driven primarily by lower prices for refined petroleum energy products
Friday, May 29, 2020Raw Materials Price Index: 8:30amAprThe Raw Materials Price Index decreased 13.4%, primarily because of a drop in crude oil prices.The Raw Materials Price Index fell 15.6%, mostly due to lower prices for crude oil.
Friday, May 29, 2020GDP: 8:30amMarReal gross domestic product fell 2.1% in the first quarter, owing to reduced household spending and widespread shutdowns of non-essential businesses in March, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.Following three months of growth, real gross domestic product was essentially unchanged in February, as declines particularly in educational services, and disruptions in the transportation and warehousing sector stalled the economy. The agency says declines particularly in educational services, and disruptions in the transportation and warehousing sector stalled the economy. Excluding these two sectors, the economy would have grown 0.2%. Overall, 13 out of the 20 sectors increased in February.

  • Markit Canada Manufacturing PMI: 9:30 am

    Friday, May 1, 2020

    For: Apr

    Current Month:
    At 33.0 in April, the PMI was down sharply from 46.1 in March, to signal a rapid decline in manufacturing sector business conditions.

    Previous Month:
    The economic activity in Canada's manufacturing sector contracted at a strong pace in March with the Markit Manufacturing PMI slumping to 46.1 from 51.8 in February.

  • Canadian International Merchandise Trade: 8:30am

    Tuesday, May 5, 2020

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    Canada's merchandise exports fell 4.7%, while imports declined 3.5%. As a result, Canada's trade deficit widened from $894 million in February to $1.4 billion in March.

    Previous Month:
    Canada's merchandise exports rose 0.5% in February, while imports were down 0.8%. As a result, Canada's merchandise trade deficit with the world narrowed from $1.7 billion in January to $983 million in February.

  • IVEY Purchasing Managers Index: 10:00am

    Thursday, May 7, 2020

    For: Apr

    Current Month:
    The index fell yet again in April to 22.8 from March's reading of 26, and way down from April 2019's level of 55.9.

    Previous Month:
    The index tumbled to 26.0 in March, far below the 54.1 reading in February and the 54.3 level it displayed in March 2019

  • Labour Force Survey: 8:30am

    Friday, May 8, 2020

    For: Apr

    Current Month:
    Following a drop of over one million in March, employment fell by nearly two million in April, bringing the total employment decline since the beginning of the COVID-19 economic shutdown to over three million

    Previous Month:
    Employment fell by 1,011,000, or 5.3% in March, raising the unemployment rate 2.2 percentage points to 7.8%.

  • Housing Starts: 8:15am

    Friday, May 8, 2020

    For: Apr

    Current Month:
    The trend in housing starts was 199,589 units in April 2020, down from 204,899 units in March 2020. Excluding Québec, the trend was 155,995 units in April 2020, up from 153,463 units in March 2020.

    Previous Month:
    CMHC reported March housing starts registered at 195,200, compared to the expected 172,500, and to 210,100 in February

  • Building Permits: 8:30am

    Friday, May 8, 2020

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    The total value of building permits issued by Canadian municipalities decreased 13.1% to $7.4 billion in March, with declines reported in seven provinces and two territories. The $1.1 billion national decrease was the largest since August 2014.

    Previous Month:
    The total value of building permits issued by Canadian municipalities decreased 7.3% to $8.6 billion in February, driven by the residential component. Declines were reported in five provinces, with the largest decrease reported in British Columbia (-39.2% to $1.3 billion).

  • Monthly Survey of Manufacturing: 8:30am

    Thursday, May 14, 2020

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    Manufacturing sales fell 9.2% to $50.8 billion in March, the lowest level since June 2016 and the largest percentage decline since December 2008, during the previous recession.

    Previous Month:
    Manufacturing sales increased 0.5% to $56.2 billion in February, following five consecutive monthly decreases. The growth was mainly due to higher sales in the transportation equipment industry.

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

    Friday, May 15, 2020

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    ---

  • CREAstats - MLS Sales: 8:30am

    Friday, May 15, 2020

    For: Apr

    Current Month:
    Home sales recorded over Canadian MLS® Systems dropped by a record 56.8% in April 2020 compared to an already weakened March, with a majority of sellers and buyers having seemingly moved off to the sidelines during the COVID-19 lockdown.

    Previous Month:
    Home sales recorded over Canadian MLS® Systems dropped by 14.3% in March 2020 compared to February, as the economic turmoil and physical distancing rules surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic caused both buyers and sellers to increasingly retreat to the sidelines over the second half of the month.

  • Wholesale Trade: 8:30am

    Wednesday, May 20, 2020

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    Wholesale sales fell 2.2% to $63.9 billion in March, following three consecutive monthly gains.

    Previous Month:
    Wholesale sales rose 0.7% to $67.5 billion in February, a third consecutive monthly gain.

  • Consumer Price Index: 8:30am

    Wednesday, May 20, 2020

    For: Apr

    Current Month:
    CPI fell 0.2% on a year-over-year basis in April, down from a 0.9% increase in March. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the CPI fell 0.7% in April, following a 0.9% decline in March.

    Previous Month:
    The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.9% on a year-over-year basis in March, down from a 2.2% increase in February. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the CPI declined 0.9% in March, following a 0.1% gain in February.

  • Employment Insurance: 8:30am

    Thursday, May 21, 2020

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    ---

  • New Housing Price Index: 8:30am

    Thursday, May 21, 2020

    For: Apr

    Current Month:
    New home prices were unchanged at the national level in April following two consecutive monthly increases.

    Previous Month:
    New home prices were up 0.3% at the national level in March.

  • Retail Trade: 8:30am

    Friday, May 22, 2020

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    Retail sales fell for the first time in five months, plunging 10.0% to $47.1 billion in March. This marked the largest drop on record and the lowest level since November 2016.

    Previous Month:
    Retail sales rose for the fourth consecutive month, up 0.3% to $52.2 billion in February.

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

    Thursday, May 28, 2020

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    In March, payroll employment in Canada decreased by 914,500 (-5.4%) compared with February, in line with the 5.3% decrease in total employment observed in the Labour Force Survey.

    Previous Month:
    The average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees were $1,046 in February, little changed from January. On a year-over-year basis, earnings rose 3.7%, mostly the result of increases observed from May to October 2019.

  • Industrial Product Price Index: 8:30am

    Friday, May 29, 2020

    For: Apr

    Current Month:
    The Industrial Product Price Index fell 2.3% in April, mostly because of lower prices for refined petroleum products.

    Previous Month:
    The Industrial Product Price Index was down 0.9% in March, driven primarily by lower prices for refined petroleum energy products

  • Raw Materials Price Index: 8:30am

    Friday, May 29, 2020

    For: Apr

    Current Month:
    The Raw Materials Price Index decreased 13.4%, primarily because of a drop in crude oil prices.

    Previous Month:
    The Raw Materials Price Index fell 15.6%, mostly due to lower prices for crude oil.

  • GDP: 8:30am

    Friday, May 29, 2020

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    Real gross domestic product fell 2.1% in the first quarter, owing to reduced household spending and widespread shutdowns of non-essential businesses in March, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Previous Month:
    Following three months of growth, real gross domestic product was essentially unchanged in February, as declines particularly in educational services, and disruptions in the transportation and warehousing sector stalled the economy. The agency says declines particularly in educational services, and disruptions in the transportation and warehousing sector stalled the economy. Excluding these two sectors, the economy would have grown 0.2%. Overall, 13 out of the 20 sectors increased in February.