Stats & Facts

94,000

The Canadian labour market added 94,000 (0.5 per cent) positions in July, bringing total employment within 1.3 per cent of pre-pandemic (February 2020) levels. In contrast to June, gains in July were led by growth in full-time employment (83,000), while increases in part-time employment (11,000) were relatively modest. Labour force participation rates remained unchanged on the previous month at 65.2 per cent. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate dropped to 7.5 per cent, a small decline that brings it in line with the low recorded in March 2021. Six of 10 provinces saw employment grow in July, with Ontario leading the charge. Employment declines were recorded in Saskatchewan, British Columbia and New Brunswick.

—Conference Board of Canada

4.2%

286,620

Retail sales were up 4.2 per cent to $56.2 billion in June, coinciding with the easing of public health restrictions in many regions across the country. Sales increased in eight of 11 subsectors, representing 69.5 per cent of retail trade. However, sales at building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers fell 3.1 per cent. This is the third consecutive month sales have been down in this sector. Overall, retail sales declined 0.7 per cent in the second quarter of 2021, after posting three consecutive increases.

The national trend in housing starts was 286,620 units in July, down from 293,085 units in June. In July, higher single detached starts failed to offset a decrease in multi-family starts in Canada’s urban areas, leading to a decline in overall starts for the month. However, the level of activity remains elevated by historical standards, both on a trend and monthly basis. Among the markets of Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, only Toronto registered an increase in total starts in July, driven once again by strong growth in the multi-family segment.

—Statistics Canada

5%

The size of the floor covering market is expected to grow at an annual average of five per cent from 2021 to 2027. Rising disposable income, a booming housing industry and growing demand for luxury flooring options are expected to contribute to market growth globally. However, the amount of non-degradable waste generated during the manufacturing of textile flooring materials, such as carpets and rugs, is expected to be an obstacle to market growth.

—Orion Market Reports

62%

Renovations are on the rise, with 62 per cent of Canadian homeowners planning a home renovation this year. When looking at specific cities, homeowners in Toronto are the most likely to invest in renovations (63 per cent), followed by those in Montreal and Vancouver (59 per cent and 58 per cent, respectively). Fortyfour per cent of Canadians indicate they plan to spend more on home renovations than they did the year previously.

62%

As many employers gear up to return employees to the workplace, 62 per cent of Canadian small and mediumsized businesses will require or plan to require proof of Covid-19 vaccination from their employees. Eighty-four per cent agree that vaccines are key to avoiding another lockdown and should be mandatory.

—KPMG

78% 20%

North American timber producers are expected to see a dip in current quarter profit after lumber demand from the do-it-yourself market, which accounts for 20 per cent of lumber sales, decreased following the easing of most restrictions that kept people in their homes. Capital Economics expects lumber prices to hover between $500 and $600 per thousand board feet for the rest of this year, with supply set to rise approximately six per cent in 2021, compared to pre-pandemic levels.

—Reuters

70%

When it comes to renovations that yield the best return on investment, 70 per cent of Canadians see redesigning larger spaces, such as kitchens or bathrooms, as the most worthwhile. Minor updates like refreshing paint, landscaping outdoor space and changing the home layout, including adding rooms or knocking down walls, are next on the list (56 per cent, 55 per cent and 50 per cent, respectively). Updating decor and furniture are seen as the least impactful. Of those surveyed, 49 per cent said they prefer to contract out most or all of the renovation work, while 33 per cent see no need to obtain professional help.

—Re/Max

The economy is the top issue small business owners want addressed in the upcoming federal election (78 per cent), with small business recovery coming in second (74 per cent). However, less than a quarter of business owners (24 per cent) are confident their concerns will receive enough attention.

29%

More than half of companies anticipate a full return to the office once the pandemic ends, according to a survey of 800 senior managers in Canada. Fewer will allow employees to follow a hybrid schedule where they can divide time between the office and another location (29 per cent) or give staff the complete freedom to choose where they work (13 per cent). However, with more than half of employees (51 per cent) revealing they prefer a hybrid arrangement, and one-third of current remote workers saying they would look for a new job if required to be in the office five days a week, employers may risk losing staff if they mandate a full return to the office.