Canadian Economic Calendar - April 2021

DateStatisticForCurrent MonthPrevious Month
Thursday, April 1, 2021Markit Canada Manufacturing PMI: 9:30 amMarThe headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Canada Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI®) registered 58.5 in March, up considerably from 54.8 in February, to become the highest reading in over 10 years of data collection.The headline seasonally-adjusted IHS Markit Canada Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index registered 54.4 in January, down sharply from 57.9 in December.
Thursday, April 1, 2021Building Permits: 8:30amFebThe total value of building permits issued in February broke the $10 billion mark for the first time, as a jump in the non-residential sector more than offset the decline in the residential sector.Permits rose rising 8.2% to $9.9 billion and surpassing the previous record of $9.6 billion set in April 2019. These gains were driven primarily by the residential sector.
Wednesday, April 7, 2021IVEY Purchasing Managers Index: 10:00amMarThe index catapulted to 72.9 in March, towering above the 60.0 reading in February, and racing away from the 26.0 figure for March 2020The index registered 60 in February, towering above the 48.4 reading in January, and also surpassing the 54.1 figure for February 2020
Wednesday, April 7, 2021Canadian International Merchandise Trade: 8:30amFebCanada's merchandise exports decreased by 2.7% in February, while imports fell 2.4%. As a result, Canada's merchandise trade surplus with the world narrowed from $1.2 billion in January to $1.0 billion in February.Canada posted a trade surplus of $1.4 billion in January, the first since May 2019, owing to a sharp 8.1% increase in merchandise exports. Imports rose 0.9% in January compared with the previous month.
Friday, April 9, 2021Labour Force Survey: 8:30amMarEmployment rose 303,000 (or 1.6%) in March. Combined with an increase of 259,000 (1.4%) in February, this brought employment to within 1.5% (-296,000) of its February 2020 level. The unemployment rate fell 0.7 percentage points to 7.5%, the lowest level since February 2020.The economy created 259,000 jobs in February, after falling by 266,000 over the previous two months, bringing the jobless rate to 8.2%.
Thursday, April 15, 2021Monthly Survey of Manufacturing: 8:30amFebManufacturing sales decreased 1.6% to $55.4 billion in February, following a 3.4% increase in January. Lower sales of motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts were largely responsible for the decline.Manufacturing sales rose 3.1% to $56.2 billion in January, exceeding the level observed before the COVID-19 pandemic (February 2020) for the first time.
Thursday, April 15, 2021CREAstats - MLS Sales: 8:30amMarHome sales recorded over Canadian MLS® Systems climbed 5.2% between February and March 2021 to set another new all-time record. Home sales recorded over Canadian MLS® Systems climbed 6.6% between January and February to set another new all-time record.
Friday, April 16, 2021Canada's International Transactions in Securities: 8:30amFebCanadian investors acquired $10.5 billion of foreign securities in February, continuing a trend of net purchases that began in May 2020. Meanwhile, foreign investment in Canadian securities reached $8.5 billion, led by strong acquisitions of Canadian shares.Foreign investment in Canadian securities totaled $1.3 billion in January, the lowest investment in six months. Meanwhile, Canadian investors acquired $3.5 billion in foreign securities, down considerably from a $26.9 billion investment in December.
Friday, April 16, 2021Wholesale Trade: 8:30amFebSales of wholesale products fell 0.7% in February to $68.8 billion, the second decline in three months. Despite the drop, sales in February were the second highest on record for the sector.Sales of wholesale products rose 4.0% in January to $69.2 billion, the eighth increase in the past nine months.
Monday, April 19, 2021Housing Starts: 8:15amMarThe trend in housing starts was 273,664 units in March 2021, up from 252,636 units in February 2021, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The trend in housing starts was 242,777 units in February, down from 244,963 units in January
Wednesday, April 21, 2021BoC Interest Rate Decision: 10:00amAprThe Bank of Canada today held its target for the overnight rate at the effective lower bound of 0.25%, with the Bank Rate at 0.5%and the deposit rate at 0.25%The Bank of Canada today held its target for the overnight rate at the effective lower bound of 0.25%, with the Bank Rate at 0.5% and the deposit rate at 0.25%
Wednesday, April 21, 2021Consumer Price Index: 8:30amMarCPI rose 2.2% on a year-over-year basis in March, up from a 1.1% gain in February. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the CPI rose 0.1% in March.CPI rose 1.1% on a year-over-year basis in February, up from a 1.0% increase in January. On a seasonally-adjusted monthly basis, the CPI rose 0.1% in February.
Thursday, April 22, 2021New Housing Price Index: 8:30amMar---New home prices in February rose at their fastest pace since February 1989. New house prices were up in 22 of the 27 census metropolitan areas surveyed, pushing the national index up 1.9% in February.
Wednesday, April 28, 2021Retail Trade: 8:30amFeb---Retail sales fell for the second consecutive month, down 1.1% to $52.5 billion in January.
Thursday, April 29, 2021Payroll Employment, Earnings and Hours: 8:30amFeb---The total number of payroll employees in January was 1.2 million (or 7%) lower than in February 2020.
Friday, April 30, 2021Industrial Product Price Index: 8:30amMar---In February, the Industrial Product Price Index rose 2.6%, the largest monthly increase in the index in over 40 years, since January 1980's advance of 3.8%.
Friday, April 30, 2021Raw Materials Price Index: 8:30amMar---The Raw Materials Price Index was up 6.6% month over month, the biggest gain since May 2020's hike of 15.0%.
Friday, April 30, 2021GDP: 8:30amFeb---Real gross domestic product edged up 0.1% in December as 12 of 20 industrial sectors were up in the month.

  • Markit Canada Manufacturing PMI: 9:30 am

    Thursday, April 1, 2021

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    The headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Canada Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI®) registered 58.5 in March, up considerably from 54.8 in February, to become the highest reading in over 10 years of data collection.

    Previous Month:
    The headline seasonally-adjusted IHS Markit Canada Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index registered 54.4 in January, down sharply from 57.9 in December.

  • Building Permits: 8:30am

    Thursday, April 1, 2021

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    The total value of building permits issued in February broke the $10 billion mark for the first time, as a jump in the non-residential sector more than offset the decline in the residential sector.

    Previous Month:
    Permits rose rising 8.2% to $9.9 billion and surpassing the previous record of $9.6 billion set in April 2019. These gains were driven primarily by the residential sector.

  • IVEY Purchasing Managers Index: 10:00am

    Wednesday, April 7, 2021

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    The index catapulted to 72.9 in March, towering above the 60.0 reading in February, and racing away from the 26.0 figure for March 2020

    Previous Month:
    The index registered 60 in February, towering above the 48.4 reading in January, and also surpassing the 54.1 figure for February 2020

  • Canadian International Merchandise Trade: 8:30am

    Wednesday, April 7, 2021

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    Canada's merchandise exports decreased by 2.7% in February, while imports fell 2.4%. As a result, Canada's merchandise trade surplus with the world narrowed from $1.2 billion in January to $1.0 billion in February.

    Previous Month:
    Canada posted a trade surplus of $1.4 billion in January, the first since May 2019, owing to a sharp 8.1% increase in merchandise exports. Imports rose 0.9% in January compared with the previous month.

  • Labour Force Survey: 8:30am

    Friday, April 9, 2021

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    Employment rose 303,000 (or 1.6%) in March. Combined with an increase of 259,000 (1.4%) in February, this brought employment to within 1.5% (-296,000) of its February 2020 level. The unemployment rate fell 0.7 percentage points to 7.5%, the lowest level since February 2020.

    Previous Month:
    The economy created 259,000 jobs in February, after falling by 266,000 over the previous two months, bringing the jobless rate to 8.2%.

  • Monthly Survey of Manufacturing: 8:30am

    Thursday, April 15, 2021

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    Manufacturing sales decreased 1.6% to $55.4 billion in February, following a 3.4% increase in January. Lower sales of motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts were largely responsible for the decline.

    Previous Month:
    Manufacturing sales rose 3.1% to $56.2 billion in January, exceeding the level observed before the COVID-19 pandemic (February 2020) for the first time.

  • CREAstats - MLS Sales: 8:30am

    Thursday, April 15, 2021

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    Home sales recorded over Canadian MLS® Systems climbed 5.2% between February and March 2021 to set another new all-time record.

    Previous Month:
    Home sales recorded over Canadian MLS® Systems climbed 6.6% between January and February to set another new all-time record.

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

    Friday, April 16, 2021

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    Canadian investors acquired $10.5 billion of foreign securities in February, continuing a trend of net purchases that began in May 2020. Meanwhile, foreign investment in Canadian securities reached $8.5 billion, led by strong acquisitions of Canadian shares.

    Previous Month:
    Foreign investment in Canadian securities totaled $1.3 billion in January, the lowest investment in six months. Meanwhile, Canadian investors acquired $3.5 billion in foreign securities, down considerably from a $26.9 billion investment in December.

  • Wholesale Trade: 8:30am

    Friday, April 16, 2021

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    Sales of wholesale products fell 0.7% in February to $68.8 billion, the second decline in three months. Despite the drop, sales in February were the second highest on record for the sector.

    Previous Month:
    Sales of wholesale products rose 4.0% in January to $69.2 billion, the eighth increase in the past nine months.

  • Housing Starts: 8:15am

    Monday, April 19, 2021

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    The trend in housing starts was 273,664 units in March 2021, up from 252,636 units in February 2021, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

    Previous Month:
    The trend in housing starts was 242,777 units in February, down from 244,963 units in January

  • BoC Interest Rate Decision: 10:00am

    Wednesday, April 21, 2021

    For: Apr

    Current Month:
    The Bank of Canada today held its target for the overnight rate at the effective lower bound of 0.25%, with the Bank Rate at 0.5%and the deposit rate at 0.25%

    Previous Month:
    The Bank of Canada today held its target for the overnight rate at the effective lower bound of 0.25%, with the Bank Rate at 0.5% and the deposit rate at 0.25%

  • Consumer Price Index: 8:30am

    Wednesday, April 21, 2021

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    CPI rose 2.2% on a year-over-year basis in March, up from a 1.1% gain in February. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the CPI rose 0.1% in March.

    Previous Month:
    CPI rose 1.1% on a year-over-year basis in February, up from a 1.0% increase in January. On a seasonally-adjusted monthly basis, the CPI rose 0.1% in February.

  • New Housing Price Index: 8:30am

    Thursday, April 22, 2021

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    New home prices in February rose at their fastest pace since February 1989. New house prices were up in 22 of the 27 census metropolitan areas surveyed, pushing the national index up 1.9% in February.

  • Retail Trade: 8:30am

    Wednesday, April 28, 2021

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    Retail sales fell for the second consecutive month, down 1.1% to $52.5 billion in January.

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

    Thursday, April 29, 2021

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    The total number of payroll employees in January was 1.2 million (or 7%) lower than in February 2020.

  • Industrial Product Price Index: 8:30am

    Friday, April 30, 2021

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    In February, the Industrial Product Price Index rose 2.6%, the largest monthly increase in the index in over 40 years, since January 1980's advance of 3.8%.

  • Raw Materials Price Index: 8:30am

    Friday, April 30, 2021

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    The Raw Materials Price Index was up 6.6% month over month, the biggest gain since May 2020's hike of 15.0%.

  • GDP: 8:30am

    Friday, April 30, 2021

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    Real gross domestic product edged up 0.1% in December as 12 of 20 industrial sectors were up in the month.