You’re not likely to hear the buzz of a bee in Canada at this time of year, but a spoonful of their honey in a glass of hot tea sure does soothe a dry or sore throat on a cold winter night. Last summer, Canada’s “working” bees made the equivalent of 73 spoonsful of sweet soothing honey for every Canadian.
Lots of parties at this time of year… with family, friends, co-workers. Toasts are made. Some accompanied by a glass of alcohol. Let’s imbibe in some alcohol-related data this holiday season, paired with some sobering stats.
Throughout 2023, Canadians took to the skies. Some flew out of the country, while others returned home.
The number of active businesses fell by 0.7% (-6,564) in September, marking the largest monthly drop since May 2020, and the lowest level of active businesses since July 2022.
In 2021, 93.9% of Canadian households reported having at least one cellphone, compared with 91.3% in 2019 and 89.4% in 2017. Conversely, the share of households that reported having a landline has declined consistently, from nearly two-thirds (63.3%) in 2017 to less than half (47.4%) in 2021.
As we all know, every dollar matters, especially for non-profit organizations (serving either households or businesses) that depend on donations. According to the latest data from the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions, there are several challenges and obstacles related to how many donations come in.
Winter officially arrives on December 21, but here in Canada we’ve had bouts of wintry weather for a while now. Every two years, the Households and the Environment Survey asks Canadian households about their participation in various outdoor activities spanning all seasons.
Given all the commercials, gift buying, festive gimcrackery and busy shops, one might suspect that the holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year for retailers. In fact, retail sales typically peak in the spring, when Canadians emerge from their winter spending slumber.
It’s holiday party season! And New Year’s Eve is just around the corner. And you know what that means—get your hair done, find an outfit, and everything in between!
