The Daily Tuesday, May 4, 2021
Press Release
Canadian international merchandise trade, March 2021
In March, Canada’s imports posted a significant increase of 5.5%, while exports edged up 0.3%. As a result, following two consecutive monthly trade surpluses, Canada’s merchandise trade balance returned to a deficit position, moving from a surplus of $1.4 billion in February to a deficit of $1.1 billion in March.
Building permits, March 2021
March 2021 marked the third consecutive month of record-setting numbers as building permits rose 5.7% to $10.9 billion, reflecting a booming residential sector.
Canadian international trade in services, March 2021
Canada’s monthly international trade-in-services surplus increased from $75 million in February to $143 million in March, mainly because of lower imports of travel services and transportation services. Overall, exports of services rose 1.2% to $9.3 billion, and imports were up 0.4% to $9.1 billion.
Police report a record high number of human trafficking incidents in Canada in 2019
There were over 500 incidents of human trafficking reported by police in Canada in 2019, up 44% from a year earlier. At 1.4 incidents per 100,000 population, the 2019 rate was the highest since comparable data became available in 2009.
Asset resilience of Canadians, 2019
Canadians were more asset resilient just prior to the pandemic than they were at the turn of the millennium. That resilience continues to be tested as we enter the second year of the pandemic.
Study: The wealth of unattached men and women aged 50 and older, 1999 to 2016
From 1999 to 2016, unattached women aged 50 and older saw their median wealth holdings grow almost twice as fast as those of unattached men aged 50 and older, according to a new study.
Outlook of rural businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic, first quarter 2021
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural businesses and their outlook going forward vary by industry. Over the course of the pandemic, many rural businesses have been forced to close down temporarily or remain partially operational.
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