Canadian Chamber of Commerce Business Data Lab

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Explore rapid commentaries and charts that help organizations understand economic data releases and what they mean.

Pivot or Peril: Are Canadian Cities Diversifying or Doubling Down on America?

Canada’s trade diversification story is real but uneven. New localized data shows which cities are expanding trade with global markets and which remain most economically vulnerable to U.S. trade disruptions.
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Economic Commentary

Jun 19, 2026

Consumers Keep Spending, but the Menu Is Narrowing

Retail sales continued to rise in April, but the composition of growth is becoming less balanced. While higher spending on gasoline and vehicles lifted the headline number, weakening core sales and flat volumes suggest underlying consumer demand is losing momentum.
Economic Commentary

Jun 10, 2026

The Bank of Canada faces a dilemma as it extends its holding pattern

Bank of Canada holds interest rates for the fifth consecutive time at 2.25%.
Economic Commentary

Jun 09, 2026

Canada’s Trade Story Finds New Supporting Cast: Merchandise Trade April 2026

April’s trade report marked a notable shift from the commodity-driven volatility that has defined much of the past year. While energy remained an important driver, gains were spread across a broader range of sectors and, importantly, were supported by higher export volumes. The result was a record high for exports and Canada’s largest trade surplus in over a year, providing a more encouraging start to the second quarter.
Economic Commentary

Jun 05, 2026

It is green across the board for May’s labour market: Labour Force Survey May 2026

Canada’s labour market rebounded sharply in May, adding 88,000 jobs and reversing months of consecutive employment losses.
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May 29, 2026

Where Canada’s defence debate goes next

After years of debate, Canada has accepted that defence spending must rise to meet a more demanding NATO and global security environment.

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