Canadian Economic Calendar - March 2019

DateStatisticForCurrent MonthPrevious Month
Friday, March 01, 2019Markit Canada Manufacturing PMI: 9:30 amJanCanada PMI manufacturing dropped to 52.6 in February, lowest level in 26 months.The headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Canada Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index fell back to 53.0 in January from 53.6 in December.
Wednesday, March 06, 2019IVEY Purchasing Managers Index: 10:00amFebThe PMI measured 50.6 in February, down sharply from the 54.7 issued in January, and well off the 59.6 level in February 2018The PMI measured 54.7 in January, down sharply from the 59.7 issued in December, and off from the 55.2 in January 2018
Wednesday, March 06, 2019BoC Rate Announcement---The Bank of Canada today maintained its target for the overnight rate at 1.75% The Bank Rate is correspondingly 2% and the deposit rate is 1.5%---
Wednesday, March 06, 2019Canadian International Merchandise Trade: 8:30amDecCanada's exports declined 3.8% in December, mainly due to lower crude oil prices, while imports were up 1.6%. As a result, Canada's merchandise trade deficit with the world widened from $2.0 billion in November to a record $4.6 billion in December.As a partial result of the U.S. government shutdown, Statistics Canada reported Tuesday that the February 5 release for the December 2018 reference month will not occur as originally planned and will be released at a later date.
Thursday, March 07, 2019Building Permits: 8:30amJanCanadian municipalities issued $8.4 billion worth of building permits in January, down 5.5% from the record high in December. Canadian municipalities issued $8.8 billion worth of building permits in December, up 6.0% from November and the fourth consecutive monthly increase.
Friday, March 08, 2019Housing Starts: 8:15amFebThe trend in housing starts was 203,554 units in February 2019, compared to 207,742 units in January 2019, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation says the seasonally-adjusted annual rate came in at 207,968 units for the first month of the year compared with 213,630 in December.
Friday, March 08, 2019Labour Force Survey: 8:30amFebEmployment grew for a second consecutive month, up 56,000 in February, driven by gains in full-time work. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.8% as the number of people searching for work held steady.The number of people employed grew by 67,000 in January, mostly among youth aged 15 to 24 and in the services-producing industries. The unemployment rate increased 0.2 percentage points to 5.8% as more people looked for work.
Thursday, March 14, 2019New Housing Price Index: 8:30amJanCanadian new housing prices fell in January for the first time since February 2018. The national index declined 0.1% in January, following five consecutive months of unchanged prices. New housing prices were unchanged at the national level for the fifth consecutive month. New home builders in 17 of the 27 census metropolitan areas (CMAs) surveyed reported flat or lower prices in December. Prices at the national level were largely unchanged throughout 2018.
Friday, March 15, 2019Monthly Survey of Manufacturing: 8:30amJanManufacturing sales increased 1.0% to $57.1 billion in January, following three consecutive monthly decreases. Higher sales in the food as well as the electrical equipment, appliance and component industries were the main contributors to the gains in January.Manufacturing sales declined for the third consecutive month, down 1.3% to $56.4 billion in December on lower sales of petroleum and coal products.
Friday, March 15, 2019CREAstats - MLS Sales: 8:30amFebStatistics released today by the Canadian Real Estate Association show national home sales plummeted 9.1% month-over-month (m-o-m) in February. Actual (not seasonally adjusted) activity was down 4.4% year-over-year (y-o-y).National home sales rose 3.6% between December 2018 and January 2019. However, actual (not seasonally adjusted) home sales were down by 4% from a year ago. The number of newly listed homes edged up 1% month-over-month in January.
Monday, March 18, 2019Canada's International Transactions in Securities: 8:30amJanForeign investors acquired $28.4 billion of Canadian securities in January, following a significant divestment in December. Meanwhile, Canadian investors reduced their holdings of foreign securities by $8.8 billion, led by sales of U.S. shares.Foreign investors reduced their holdings of Canadian securities by $19.0 billion in December, led by a record divestment in Canadian bonds. At the same time, Canadian investors reduced their holdings of foreign securities by $425 million, on sales of U.S. Treasury instruments.
Thursday, March 21, 2019Wholesale Trade: 8:30amJan---Wholesale sales rose 0.3% to $63.1 billion in December following a 1.1% decline in November. In volume terms, wholesale sales increased 0.3%.
Thursday, March 21, 2019Employment Insurance: 8:30amJan---In December, 446,300 people received regular Employment Insurance benefits, up 4,600 or 1.0% from November.
Friday, March 22, 2019Consumer Price Index: 8:30amFeb---CPI rose 1.4% on a year-over-year basis in January, down from a 2.0% increase in December. On a seasonally-adjusted monthly basis, the CPI declined 0.1% in January.
Friday, March 22, 2019Retail Trade: 8:30amJan---Retail sales edged down 0.1% to $50.4 billion in December. Lower sales at gasoline stations were partly offset by higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019Average Weekly EarningsJan---Average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees were $1,012 in December, little changed from the previous month. Compared with 12 months earlier, earnings grew 1.8%.
Friday, March 29, 2019Industrial Product Price Index: 8:30amFeb---The Industrial Product Price Index declined 0.3% in January, driven primarily by lower prices for energy and petroleum products.
Friday, March 29, 2019Raw Materials Price Index: 8:30amFeb---The Raw Materials Price Index rose 3.8%, mainly due to higher prices for crude energy products.
Friday, March 29, 2019GDP: 8:30amJan---Growth in real gross domestic product slowed to 0.1% in the fourth quarter, the slowest pace since the second quarter of 2016.

  • Markit Canada Manufacturing PMI: 9:30 am

    Friday, March 01, 2019

    For: Jan

    Current Month:
    Canada PMI manufacturing dropped to 52.6 in February, lowest level in 26 months.

    Previous Month:
    The headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Canada Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index fell back to 53.0 in January from 53.6 in December.

  • IVEY Purchasing Managers Index: 10:00am

    Wednesday, March 06, 2019

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    The PMI measured 50.6 in February, down sharply from the 54.7 issued in January, and well off the 59.6 level in February 2018

    Previous Month:
    The PMI measured 54.7 in January, down sharply from the 59.7 issued in December, and off from the 55.2 in January 2018

  • BoC Rate Announcement

    Wednesday, March 06, 2019

    For: ---

    Current Month:
    The Bank of Canada today maintained its target for the overnight rate at 1.75% The Bank Rate is correspondingly 2% and the deposit rate is 1.5%

    Previous Month:
    ---

  • Canadian International Merchandise Trade: 8:30am

    Wednesday, March 06, 2019

    For: Dec

    Current Month:
    Canada's exports declined 3.8% in December, mainly due to lower crude oil prices, while imports were up 1.6%. As a result, Canada's merchandise trade deficit with the world widened from $2.0 billion in November to a record $4.6 billion in December.

    Previous Month:
    As a partial result of the U.S. government shutdown, Statistics Canada reported Tuesday that the February 5 release for the December 2018 reference month will not occur as originally planned and will be released at a later date.

  • Building Permits: 8:30am

    Thursday, March 07, 2019

    For: Jan

    Current Month:
    Canadian municipalities issued $8.4 billion worth of building permits in January, down 5.5% from the record high in December.

    Previous Month:
    Canadian municipalities issued $8.8 billion worth of building permits in December, up 6.0% from November and the fourth consecutive monthly increase.

  • Housing Starts: 8:15am

    Friday, March 08, 2019

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    The trend in housing starts was 203,554 units in February 2019, compared to 207,742 units in January 2019, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

    Previous Month:
    Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation says the seasonally-adjusted annual rate came in at 207,968 units for the first month of the year compared with 213,630 in December.

  • Labour Force Survey: 8:30am

    Friday, March 08, 2019

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    Employment grew for a second consecutive month, up 56,000 in February, driven by gains in full-time work. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.8% as the number of people searching for work held steady.

    Previous Month:
    The number of people employed grew by 67,000 in January, mostly among youth aged 15 to 24 and in the services-producing industries. The unemployment rate increased 0.2 percentage points to 5.8% as more people looked for work.

  • New Housing Price Index: 8:30am

    Thursday, March 14, 2019

    For: Jan

    Current Month:
    Canadian new housing prices fell in January for the first time since February 2018. The national index declined 0.1% in January, following five consecutive months of unchanged prices.

    Previous Month:
    New housing prices were unchanged at the national level for the fifth consecutive month. New home builders in 17 of the 27 census metropolitan areas (CMAs) surveyed reported flat or lower prices in December. Prices at the national level were largely unchanged throughout 2018.

  • Monthly Survey of Manufacturing: 8:30am

    Friday, March 15, 2019

    For: Jan

    Current Month:
    Manufacturing sales increased 1.0% to $57.1 billion in January, following three consecutive monthly decreases. Higher sales in the food as well as the electrical equipment, appliance and component industries were the main contributors to the gains in January.

    Previous Month:
    Manufacturing sales declined for the third consecutive month, down 1.3% to $56.4 billion in December on lower sales of petroleum and coal products.

  • CREAstats - MLS Sales: 8:30am

    Friday, March 15, 2019

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    Statistics released today by the Canadian Real Estate Association show national home sales plummeted 9.1% month-over-month (m-o-m) in February. Actual (not seasonally adjusted) activity was down 4.4% year-over-year (y-o-y).

    Previous Month:
    National home sales rose 3.6% between December 2018 and January 2019. However, actual (not seasonally adjusted) home sales were down by 4% from a year ago. The number of newly listed homes edged up 1% month-over-month in January.

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

    Monday, March 18, 2019

    For: Jan

    Current Month:
    Foreign investors acquired $28.4 billion of Canadian securities in January, following a significant divestment in December. Meanwhile, Canadian investors reduced their holdings of foreign securities by $8.8 billion, led by sales of U.S. shares.

    Previous Month:
    Foreign investors reduced their holdings of Canadian securities by $19.0 billion in December, led by a record divestment in Canadian bonds. At the same time, Canadian investors reduced their holdings of foreign securities by $425 million, on sales of U.S. Treasury instruments.

  • Wholesale Trade: 8:30am

    Thursday, March 21, 2019

    For: Jan

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    Wholesale sales rose 0.3% to $63.1 billion in December following a 1.1% decline in November. In volume terms, wholesale sales increased 0.3%.

  • Employment Insurance: 8:30am

    Thursday, March 21, 2019

    For: Jan

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    In December, 446,300 people received regular Employment Insurance benefits, up 4,600 or 1.0% from November.

  • Consumer Price Index: 8:30am

    Friday, March 22, 2019

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    CPI rose 1.4% on a year-over-year basis in January, down from a 2.0% increase in December. On a seasonally-adjusted monthly basis, the CPI declined 0.1% in January.

  • Retail Trade: 8:30am

    Friday, March 22, 2019

    For: Jan

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    Retail sales edged down 0.1% to $50.4 billion in December. Lower sales at gasoline stations were partly offset by higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers.

  • Average Weekly Earnings

    Wednesday, March 27, 2019

    For: Jan

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    Average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees were $1,012 in December, little changed from the previous month. Compared with 12 months earlier, earnings grew 1.8%.

  • Industrial Product Price Index: 8:30am

    Friday, March 29, 2019

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    ---

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

  • Raw Materials Price Index: 8:30am

    Friday, March 29, 2019

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    The Raw Materials Price Index rose 3.8%, mainly due to higher prices for crude energy products.

  • GDP: 8:30am

    Friday, March 29, 2019

    For: Jan

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    Growth in real gross domestic product slowed to 0.1% in the fourth quarter, the slowest pace since the second quarter of 2016.