Fast Facts Friday: December 22, 2023

Catch up on the latest facts and read more via the links below in case you missed them this week!

1. International migration accounted for 98% of Canada’s population growth in 2022/2023. - The Daily — Canada's demographic estimates for July 1, 2023: record-high population growth since 1957
2. In October 2023, investment in building construction rose 2.7% to $19.4 billion. - The Daily — Investment in building construction, October 2023
3. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3.1% on a year-over-year basis in November 2023, matching the 3.1% increase in October. - The Daily — Consumer Price Index, November 2023
4. Canada’s population was estimated at 40,528,396 on October 1, 2023, an increase of 430,635 people (+1.1%) from July 1. This was the highest quarterly rate since 1957. - The Daily — Canada's population estimates, third quarter 2023
5. The number of Canadians receiving regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits was little changed in October 2023 (+0.7%; +2,900) and stood at 443,000. - The Daily — Employment Insurance, October 2023
6. From 2009 to 2021, the Canadian economy as measured by real GDP (+26.3%) and the total energy used by industries (+3.8%) increased, while industrial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (-2.5%) decreased. - The Daily — Canadian System of Environmental–Economic Accounts: Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, 2021
7. Retail sales increased 0.7% to $66.9 billion in October. Sales were up in seven of nine subsectors. - The Daily — Retail trade, October 2023
8. The number of employees receiving pay and benefits from their employer decreased by 44,600 (-0.2%) in October 2023. - The Daily — Payroll employment, earnings and hours, and job vacancies, October 2023
9. In 2022, sales at clothing and jewellery stores totalled just over $4.5 billion in December, $800 million more than the second highest sales month (November) and $2.7 billion more than during January, when sales were at their lowest. - StatsCAN Plus — Plus It’s the second most wonderful time of the year for Canadian retailers
10. In 2021, 93.9% of Canadian households reported having at least one cellphone, compared with 91.3% in 2019 and 89.4% in 2017. - StatsCAN Plus — Landline use decreases amid growing cellphone ownership