Economy

Canadian economy add 35200 jobs in December

Published

5 years ago

January 10, 2020

Amid renewed concerns about a possible recession, the Canadian economy added 35,200 jobs in December, pushing the unemployment rate down by three-tenths of a percentage point to 5.6 per cent, Statistics Canada said on Friday.

The positive job numbers come after the economy shed 71,200 jobs in November, the biggest monthly loss of jobs since the late 2000s financial crisis.

According to Statistics Canada’s monthly labour force survey, full-time employment rose by 38,400 jobs in December, while the number of part-time jobs dropped by 3,200.

The gains are attributable to an uptick in private sector employment, which rose by 56,900. This offset a loss of 21,500 public sector jobs.

By region, Ontario led the way, adding 25,100 jobs last month. Quebec boosted employment ranks by 21,100 jobs. Conversely, Newfoundland and Labrador lost 5,000 jobs.

In the Ottawa-Gatineau metro area, the unemployment rate remained flat at 4.4 per cent.

Collectively, the Canadian economy added 320,300 jobs in 2019.

South of the border, the U.S. economy added 145,000 jobs in December, with the unemployment rate staying flat at 3.5 per cent, according to new Labor Department numbers released on Friday.

This actually represents a downward trend in hiring in the country compared to the previous month, with the U.S. economy adding 256,000 jobs in November, as The Associated Press reports.

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Economy

S&P/TSX composite gains almost 100 points, U.S. stock markets also higher

Published

1 day ago

September 13, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Strength in the base metal and technology sectors helped Canada’s main stock index gain almost 100 points on Friday, while U.S. stock markets also climbed higher.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 93.51 points at 23,568.65.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 297.01 points at 41,393.78. The S&P 500 index was up 30.26 points at 5,626.02, while the Nasdaq composite was up 114.30 points at 17,683.98.

The Canadian dollar traded for 73.61 cents US compared with 73.58 cents US on Thursday.

The October crude oil contract was down 32 cents at US$68.65 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was down five cents at US$2.31 per mmBTU.

The December gold contract was up US$30.10 at US$2,610.70 an ounce and the December copper contract was up four cents US$4.24 a pound.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD)

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Economy

Statistics Canada reports wholesale sales higher in July

Published

2 days ago

September 13, 2024

Anne Joseph

OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says wholesale sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain, rose 0.4 per cent to $82.7 billion in July.

The increase came as sales in the miscellaneous subsector gained three per cent to reach $10.5 billion in July, helped by strength in the agriculture supplies industry group, which rose 9.2 per cent.

The food, beverage and tobacco subsector added 1.7 per cent to total $15 billion in July.

The personal and household goods subsector fell 2.5 per cent to $12.1 billion.

In volume terms, overall wholesale sales rose 0.5 per cent in July.

Statistics Canada started including oilseed and grain as well as the petroleum and petroleum products subsector as part of wholesale trade last year, but is excluding the data from monthly analysis until there is enough historical data.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

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Economy

S&P/TSX composite up more than 150 points, U.S. stock markets mixed

Published

3 days ago

September 12, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 150 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in the base metal and energy sectors, while U.S. stock markets were mixed.

The S&P/TSX composite index was up 172.18 points at 23,383.35.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 34.99 points at 40,826.72. The S&P 500 index was up 10.56 points at 5,564.69, while the Nasdaq composite was up 74.84 points at 17,470.37.

The Canadian dollar traded for 73.55 cents US compared with 73.59 cents US on Wednesday.

The October crude oil contract was up $2.00 at US$69.31 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up five cents at US$2.32 per mmBTU.

The December gold contract was up US$40.00 at US$2,582.40 an ounce and the December copper contract was up six cents at US$4.20 a pound.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD)

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