Statistics Canada retracted its July employment report on Tuesday, four days after reporting that the Canadian economy created only 200 jobs during the month.
The data agency declined to offer details on what sort of error had been detected, but they said it has been identified and corrected. It would only say the mistake does not affect other statistical programs, and says new, corrected numbers will be released this coming Friday.
At least one Bay Street watcher was confused by the news. "Taking the very rare step of issuing a formal correction … suggests that this will not be a minor revision," Scotiabank said in a note to clients. "I don't know why they'd wait until Friday … if they know they have an error now."
For its part, StatsCan insists it will get to the bottom of it, and ensure that its data is completely accurate.
