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According to Emerging Trends in Real Estate Surveys: Real Estate Business Prospects 2021 versus 2020, real estate builders and developers in Canada rate 2021 prospects at 3.55 out of 5 compared to 3.31 in 2020. On the scale, one is considered abysmal and five is excellent. —PwC T he total number of new condominium apartment sales in the Greater Toronto Area increased 30 per cent year-over-year in Q3 to 6,370 units, reaching a record high for third-quarter activity. —Urbanation T he number of Canadian enterprises that exported goods rose for the fourth consecutive month — up 1.3 per cent from July, to 19,204 in August — but was 5.9 per cent below pre-pandemic levels in February. —Statistics Canada Q3 2020 sales for condo apartments in Toronto were up 10.5 per cent year-over-year, though new listings were up 84.6 per cent. The rental market, on the other hand, saw growth of 30.2 per cent over Q3 2019. — Toronto Regional Real Estate Board
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T he trend in housing starts in Canada was 214,647 units in September 2020, up from 212,609 units in August 2020. —Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation T he Canada Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index registered 55.5 in October, down slightly from 56 in September, indicative of another strong improvement in overall business conditions. —IHS Markit T he total of $1.4 billion US construction activity for September 2020 in the U.S. was 0.3 per cent above August 2020. —U.S. Census Bureau
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T otal employment in Canada rose by 246,000 (1.4 per cent) in August, following an increase of 419,000 (2.4 per cent) in July and 953,000 (5.8 per cent) in June. —Statistics Canada T he 2020 Q1 Architectural, Engineering and Related Services Price Index for Canada indicates a quarter-overquarter change of 0.8 per cent and year-over-year change of 1.9 per cent. —Statistics Canada An analysis has projected that the total cost of the 2020 U.S. election will be just under $11 billion US. When adjusted for inflation, the 2020 election is set to be 50 per cent more expensive than in 2016. —The Center For Responsive Politics T he U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index is at 55.5 in October, a 20-month high. —IHS Markit In the 2020 Kitchen & Bath Market Outlook September Update, U.S. respondents were asked about their level of comfort within their homes during the pandemic. Although eight per cent were not at all comfortable to the point where they wanted to move, the predominant answer, cited by 71 per cent of homeowners, was that they were generally satisfied with where they were living. However, nearly one in four who planned to remain at home expressed a need to remodel — and soon — with changes designed to increase their level of comfort during the Covid-19 era and beyond. —NKBA T otal U.S. retail sales, including expenditures at restaurants and bars, rose by 1.9 per cent in September, reaching $549 billion US for the month. This marks the fifth consecutive month of increases, with total sales recovering to near pre-pandemic levels. For perspective, during the initial pandemic shutdown in March and April, retail sales had dropped by 20 per cent versus pre-Covid. —U.S. Census Bureau
EVENTS Jan. 26 – 28 TISE: The International Surface Event Online www.intlsurfaceevent.com
Apr. 28 – 30 NWFA Expo Baltimore www.nwfaexpo.org/NWFA2021/Public/ Enter.aspx
June 15 – 18 TISE: The International Surface Event Las Vegas www.intlsurfaceevent.com
Feb. 9 – 11 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show Online www.kbis.com
May 13 – 16 Interior Design Show Toronto www.interiordesignshow.com
July 7 – 9 Coverings Orlando www.coverings.com
Apr. 28 – 29 Architect@Work Canada Toronto www.architectatwork.ca
May 20 – 22 Domotex Hanover, Germany www.domotex.de/en/
Oct. 4 – 6 Neocon Chicago www.neocon.com
Canada’s floorcovering magazine
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