MAJOR RELEASES

Retail trade, October 2003
Retail sales advanced marginally in October, as consumer spending remained weak in several sectors. Sales by retailers edged up 0.2% to $26.4 billion in October, after falling 1.0% in September.

Survey of Suppliers of Business Financing, 2002
Canadian businesses reduced slightly their total debt owed in 2002, as a decline in the debt load of large borrowers offset increased debt among smaller borrowers. Suppliers of financing reported their business clients owed them $358.5 billion as of December 31, 2002, down 0.4% from the previous year.

Canada's demographic situation: Fertility of immigrant women
Fertility rates among foreign-born women start to decline relatively soon after they arrive in Canada, and eventually reach those of women who were born in Canada, according to a new study. The tendency for fertility rates to converge was especially notable among women who immigrated before the age of 15.

OTHER RELEASES

Services indicators, third quarter 2003

Annual Survey of Traveller Accommodation, 2002

Trends in family income, 1980 to 2001

Industrial chemicals and synthetic resins, October 2003

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