Canadian Economic Calendar - April 2018

DateStatisticForCurrent MonthPrevious Month
Monday, April 02, 2018Markit Canada Manufacturing PMI: 9:30amMarThe IHS Markit Purchasing Managers Index registered 55.7 in March, little changed from 55.6 in February and above the neutral 50.0 threshold for the 25th consecutive month. The Markit Canada Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ index (PMI), a measure of manufacturing business conditions, declined to a seasonally adjusted 55.6 last month from 55.9 in January.
Thursday, April 05, 2018Canadian International Merchandise Trade: 8:30amFebCanada's merchandise trade deficit totaled $2.7 billion in February, widening from a $1.9-billion deficit in January. Imports rose 1.9% and exports increased 0.4%.Canada's merchandise trade deficit totalled $1.9 billion in January, narrowing from a $3.1-billion deficit in December. Imports decreased 4.3% and exports fell 2.1%.
Friday, April 06, 2018Labour Force Survey: 8:30amMar.Employment increased by 32,000 in March, driven by full-time gains. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.8%.Employment gained only 15,000 jobs in February. The unemployment rate declined by 0.1 percentage points to 5.8%.
Friday, April 06, 2018IVEY Purchasing Managers Index: 10:00amMarThe index measured 59.8 in March, in contrast to a reading of 59.6 in February, and 61.1 in March 2017. A reading above 50 indicates an increase in the pace of activity.The seasonally-adjusted index increased to 59.6 in February from 55.2 in January and 55 in February 2017. A reading above 50 indicates an increase in the pace of activity.
Tuesday, April 10, 2018Housing Starts: 8:15amMarCanada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's seasonally-adjusted annual rate of starts declined to 225,213 in March from February’s upwardly revised 231,026. Economists had forecast starts would decline to 218,000 homes. The trend in housing starts was 225,276 units in February, compared to 224,572 units in January, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
Tuesday, April 10, 2018Building Permits: 8:30amFebCanadian municipalities issued $8.2 billion in building permits in February (-2.6%), following a 5.2% gain in January. Single-family homes as well as the commercial and institutional components saw lower levels of construction intentions in February.Canadian municipalities issued $8.4 billion in building permits in January, up 5.6% following a 2.5% rise in December. The January increase mainly stemmed from higher construction intentions for multi-family dwellings in Ontario.
Thursday, April 12, 2018New Housing Price Index: 8:30amFebLower prices for new homes in Toronto were the main reason for a national price decline in February. Following two consecutive months of no change, new home prices were down 0.2% nationally. Nationally, new house prices were unchanged for a second consecutive month.
Monday, April 16, 2018CREAstats - MLS Sales: 8:30amMarHome sales via Canadian MLS® Systems edged up 1.3 % from February to March 2018. Despite having improved marginally in March, national sales activity in the first quarter slid to the lowest quarterly level since the first quarter of 2014.Statistics released today by The Canadian Real Estate Association show national home sales declined further in February 2018. National home sales declined by 6.5% from January to February. Actual (not seasonally-adjusted) activity was down 16.9% year-over-year in February.
Tuesday, April 17, 2018Canada's International Transactions in Securities: 8:30amFebForeign investment in Canadian securities totaled $4.0 billion in February, down from $5.6 billion in January. Meanwhile, Canadian investment in foreign securities slowed to $6.3 billion, following two months of strong acquisitions.Foreign investors resumed their investment in Canadian securities by adding $5.7 billion to their holdings in January. Meanwhile, Canadian investment in foreign securities totaled $13.3 billion, a second consecutive month of strong acquisitions.
Tuesday, April 17, 2018Monthly Survey of Manufacturing: 8:30amFebManufacturing sales increased 1.9% to $55.8 billion in February, following two consecutive monthly decreases. Manufacturing sales decreased 1.0% to $54.9 billion in January.
Wednesday, April 18, 2018BoC Rate Announcement: 10amAprThe Bank of Canada today maintained its target for the overnight rate at 1.25% The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1.5% and the deposit rate is 1%. The Bank of Canada today maintained its target for the overnight rate at 1.25%. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1.5% and the deposit rate is 1%.
Thursday, April 19, 2018Employment Insurance: 8:30amFeb---The number of regular Employment Insurance beneficiaries fell by 5,800 or 1.2% in January to 494,200, continuing a downward trend that began in October 2016.
Friday, April 20, 2018Consumer Price Index: 8:30amMar---CPI rose 2.2% on a year-over-year basis in February, following a 1.7% increase in January. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the Consumer Price Index was up 0.2% in February after increasing 0.5% in January.
Friday, April 20, 2018Retail Trade: 8:30amFeb---Retail sales increased 0.3% in January to $49.9 billion. General merchandise stores were the largest contributors to the increase
Monday, April 23, 2018Wholesale Trade: 8:30amFeb---Wholesale sales edged up 0.1% to $63.3 billion in January. Sales were up in four of seven sub-sectors, accounting for 66% of total wholesale sales.
Thursday, April 26, 2018Average Weekly EarningsFeb---Average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees were $996 in January, little changed from the previous month. Earnings were up 3.2% compared with January 2017, largely the result of gains in the second half of 2017
Monday, April 30, 2018Industrial Product Price Index: 8:30amMar---The Industrial Product Price Index edged up 0.1% in February
Monday, April 30, 2018Raw Materials Price Index: 8:30amMar---The Raw Materials Price Index fell 0.3% due to lower prices for crude energy products.
Tuesday, May 01, 2018GDP: 8:30amFeb---GDP edged down 0.1% in January, offsetting part of the 0.2% growth in December.

  • Markit Canada Manufacturing PMI: 9:30am

    Monday, April 02, 2018

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    The IHS Markit Purchasing Managers Index registered 55.7 in March, little changed from 55.6 in February and above the neutral 50.0 threshold for the 25th consecutive month.

    Previous Month:
    The Markit Canada Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ index (PMI), a measure of manufacturing business conditions, declined to a seasonally adjusted 55.6 last month from 55.9 in January.

  • Canadian International Merchandise Trade: 8:30am

    Thursday, April 05, 2018

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    Canada's merchandise trade deficit totaled $2.7 billion in February, widening from a $1.9-billion deficit in January. Imports rose 1.9% and exports increased 0.4%.

    Previous Month:
    Canada's merchandise trade deficit totalled $1.9 billion in January, narrowing from a $3.1-billion deficit in December. Imports decreased 4.3% and exports fell 2.1%.

  • Labour Force Survey: 8:30am

    Friday, April 06, 2018

    For: Mar.

    Current Month:
    Employment increased by 32,000 in March, driven by full-time gains. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.8%.

    Previous Month:
    Employment gained only 15,000 jobs in February. The unemployment rate declined by 0.1 percentage points to 5.8%.

  • IVEY Purchasing Managers Index: 10:00am

    Friday, April 06, 2018

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    The index measured 59.8 in March, in contrast to a reading of 59.6 in February, and 61.1 in March 2017. A reading above 50 indicates an increase in the pace of activity.

    Previous Month:
    The seasonally-adjusted index increased to 59.6 in February from 55.2 in January and 55 in February 2017. A reading above 50 indicates an increase in the pace of activity.

  • Housing Starts: 8:15am

    Tuesday, April 10, 2018

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's seasonally-adjusted annual rate of starts declined to 225,213 in March from February’s upwardly revised 231,026. Economists had forecast starts would decline to 218,000 homes.

    Previous Month:
    The trend in housing starts was 225,276 units in February, compared to 224,572 units in January, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

  • Building Permits: 8:30am

    Tuesday, April 10, 2018

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    Canadian municipalities issued $8.2 billion in building permits in February (-2.6%), following a 5.2% gain in January. Single-family homes as well as the commercial and institutional components saw lower levels of construction intentions in February.

    Previous Month:
    Canadian municipalities issued $8.4 billion in building permits in January, up 5.6% following a 2.5% rise in December. The January increase mainly stemmed from higher construction intentions for multi-family dwellings in Ontario.

  • New Housing Price Index: 8:30am

    Thursday, April 12, 2018

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    Lower prices for new homes in Toronto were the main reason for a national price decline in February. Following two consecutive months of no change, new home prices were down 0.2% nationally.

    Previous Month:
    Nationally, new house prices were unchanged for a second consecutive month.

  • CREAstats - MLS Sales: 8:30am

    Monday, April 16, 2018

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    Home sales via Canadian MLS® Systems edged up 1.3 % from February to March 2018. Despite having improved marginally in March, national sales activity in the first quarter slid to the lowest quarterly level since the first quarter of 2014.

    Previous Month:
    Statistics released today by The Canadian Real Estate Association show national home sales declined further in February 2018. National home sales declined by 6.5% from January to February. Actual (not seasonally-adjusted) activity was down 16.9% year-over-year in February.

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

    Tuesday, April 17, 2018

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    Foreign investment in Canadian securities totaled $4.0 billion in February, down from $5.6 billion in January. Meanwhile, Canadian investment in foreign securities slowed to $6.3 billion, following two months of strong acquisitions.

    Previous Month:
    Foreign investors resumed their investment in Canadian securities by adding $5.7 billion to their holdings in January. Meanwhile, Canadian investment in foreign securities totaled $13.3 billion, a second consecutive month of strong acquisitions.

  • Monthly Survey of Manufacturing: 8:30am

    Tuesday, April 17, 2018

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    Manufacturing sales increased 1.9% to $55.8 billion in February, following two consecutive monthly decreases.

    Previous Month:
    Manufacturing sales decreased 1.0% to $54.9 billion in January.

  • BoC Rate Announcement: 10am

    Wednesday, April 18, 2018

    For: Apr

    Current Month:
    The Bank of Canada today maintained its target for the overnight rate at 1.25% The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1.5% and the deposit rate is 1%.

    Previous Month:
    The Bank of Canada today maintained its target for the overnight rate at 1.25%. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1.5% and the deposit rate is 1%.

  • Employment Insurance: 8:30am

    Thursday, April 19, 2018

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    The number of regular Employment Insurance beneficiaries fell by 5,800 or 1.2% in January to 494,200, continuing a downward trend that began in October 2016.

  • Consumer Price Index: 8:30am

    Friday, April 20, 2018

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    CPI rose 2.2% on a year-over-year basis in February, following a 1.7% increase in January. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the Consumer Price Index was up 0.2% in February after increasing 0.5% in January.

  • Retail Trade: 8:30am

    Friday, April 20, 2018

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    Retail sales increased 0.3% in January to $49.9 billion. General merchandise stores were the largest contributors to the increase

  • Wholesale Trade: 8:30am

    Monday, April 23, 2018

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    Wholesale sales edged up 0.1% to $63.3 billion in January. Sales were up in four of seven sub-sectors, accounting for 66% of total wholesale sales.

  • Average Weekly Earnings

    Thursday, April 26, 2018

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    Average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees were $996 in January, little changed from the previous month. Earnings were up 3.2% compared with January 2017, largely the result of gains in the second half of 2017

  • Industrial Product Price Index: 8:30am

    Monday, April 30, 2018

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    The Industrial Product Price Index edged up 0.1% in February

  • Raw Materials Price Index: 8:30am

    Monday, April 30, 2018

    For: Mar

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    The Raw Materials Price Index fell 0.3% due to lower prices for crude energy products.

  • GDP: 8:30am

    Tuesday, May 01, 2018

    For: Feb

    Current Month:
    ---

    Previous Month:
    GDP edged down 0.1% in January, offsetting part of the 0.2% growth in December.