2008

According to a recent report by Statistics Canada (www.statcan.ca), there are several indications that the Canadian economy quickly shrugged off its drop in December and began growing again in the New Year. Housing starts and auto sales posted strong gains. The stock market in February rebounded from its dip in January, reflecting one of the largest jumps in monthly commodity prices during the current boom that began six years ago. Most importantly, firms expanded payrolls in both January and February, consistent with a pickup in investment plans for 2008.

Firms plan to boost nominal business investment about 6% in 2008, according to the annual survey of investment intentions. The increase bettered last year’s hike, and was …

Wholesale prices rose 0.3 percent in February, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported. This increase followed a 1.0-percent advance in January and a 0.3-percent decline in December. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods moved up 0.8 percent in February subsequent to a 1.4-percent advance in January, and the crude goods index rose 3.7 percent after climbing 2.5 percent in the prior month.

Within finished goods, the index for energy goods increased 0.8 percent in February compared with a 1.5-percent gain in the previous month. Prices for consumer foods declined 0.5 percent following a 1.7-percent rise in January. By contrast, …

Concerns about the economy and a steep drop in plans for hiring led to a steep decline in the confidence of distribution and wholesale companies during the fourth quarter of 2007, according to the latest Small Business Research Board report.
 
The study indicated that the Distribution &Wholesale Small Business Confidence Index dropped to 31 during the fourth quarter or 10 points (nearly 25%) from the 41 recorded during the prior quarter. The third quarter 2007 report was the first wholesale and distribution industry confidence index issued by the Small Business Research Board.
 
Declines in two of the three major categories comprising the confidence index contributed to the lower fourth quarter results.
 
Of the respondents, 24% said they believed the …