The Business & Community Newsletter – February 2020

Statistics Canada has a new interactive dashboard for wholesale and retail services price indexes. This web application provides access to wholesale and retail margins data by category. With this tool, data users can explore current and historical trends for various types of wholesaling and retailing services. Key indicators, such as the latest quarterly and annual changes, as well as services price trends, are presented in interactive charts, allowing users to compare and analyze services price changes over time. This web-based application is updated quarterly, as soon as data for the latest reference period are released in The Daily. This tool is part of the Data Visualization Products catalogue 71-607-X.

Price trends in key Canadian housing markets, fourth quarter 2019

Prices for residential properties rose by 0.6% from the third quarter to the fourth quarter of 2019. Higher prices for resale properties (+0.9%) were partially offset by lower prices for new properties (-0.2%). Prices for condominium apartments and houses (both up 0.5%) rose at the same pace in the six census metropolitan area (CMA) composite covered by the survey.

Residential property prices in Toronto rose by 0.4% from the third to the fourth quarter, led by the condominium apartment (+1.5%) and house (+0.7%) resale markets. Overall, resale property prices rose by 4.6% in 2019.

Following five consecutive quarterly declines, residential property prices in Vancouver increased by 0.2% in the fourth quarter, driven by higher prices for resale condominium apartments (+1.1%) and resale houses (+0.6%).

Montréal residential property prices were up 1.0% in the fourth quarter, marking a seventh consecutive quarterly increase. Prices for new houses posted the largest growth (+2.5%).

For more information check out the article in the Daily.

The average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees were $1,042 in November, little changed from October. On a year-over-year basis, earnings grew 3.1%, continuing an upward trend observed since March.

In general, changes in weekly earnings are the result of a number of factors, including wage growth; changes in the composition of employment by industry, occupation and level of job experience; and average hours worked per week.

On a year-over-year basis, average weekly earnings grew in 8 of the 10 largest industrial sectors (in terms of employment), led by administrative and support services. There was little change in wholesale trade and construction. Earnings also increased in smaller sectors such as utilities and mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction. Declines were recorded in real estate, rental, and leasing as well as in forestry, logging and support.

Compared with 12 months earlier, average weekly earnings rose in all provinces in November, most notably in Quebec and Nova Scotia. Average weekly earnings in Quebec increased 4.3% to $978 in November. The earnings growth was spread over several sectors, with professional, scientific and technical services and public administration contributing the most to the rise. Payroll employees in Nova Scotia earned an average of $924 per week in November, up 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. The growth was spread across several sectors, with health care and social assistance as well as educational services contributing the most to the rise. Earnings in the province have been trending up since May 2018.

To explore the most recent results of the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours in an interactive format, visit the "Earnings and payroll employment in brief: Interactive app."

Don't miss the next installment of Statistics Canada's Canada 4.0 Digital Conference

On March 26, 2020 Statistics Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada will host the 4th in its innovative digital conference series. The Canada 4.0 conferences look at the profound impact the digital transformation is having on Canadian society and the economy. These online conferences are free to attend. All you need to do is register!

The next conference, Connected: the digital revolution and the well-being of Canadians looks at both the upsides and the downsides of digital transformation. How will Canadians adapt and flourish and who could be left behind? It is important to know how Canadians are doing: in their mental health, their education, social connections and work-life balance; in their feelings of safety and security; and in their ability to take advantage of the economic and social opportunities offered by the digital economy. The digital revolution has, and will continue to, change our social landscape at a rapid pace. The risks and opportunities afforded by the digital transformation on well-being will be explored in this session as well as the data needed by individuals, government and policy makers to monitor these changes over time.

The moderator and panelists are currently being confirmed. Check our Canada 4.0 portal for more information, updates and registration information.

When: March 26, 2020 from 1:30-2:30 followed by a 30-minute question and answer discussion

Many Canadians are providing care or help to someone with a long-term health condition, a physical or mental disability, or problems related to aging. Support given to caregivers may help alleviate potential economic and health-related implications of caregiving. This study uses the 2018 General Social Survey - Caregiving and Care Receiving (Cycle 32) to examine the types of support provided to caregivers. It also examines the relationship between unmet support needs and some indicators of well-being.