September 26, 2024 15:48 GMT
MNI BRIEF: Canada Business Closure Rate Highest Since Pandemic
Canada's rate of business closures rose in June to the highest since the same month four years earlier during pandemic shutdowns, consistent with other signs the economy headed into Q3 on a weak footing that could trigger faster interest-rate cuts.
Statistics Canada said Thursday the closure rate of 5% was up 0.2pp for a second month and approaching the 7.1% high set in June 2020. Construction and retail led the increase, industries sensitive to the Bank of Canada's earlier rate hikes to the highest since 2001 before three cuts that began in June.
The pace of new firms opening their doors fell by the most in almost three years, by 0.4pp to 4.2%. (See: MNI INTERVIEW: BOC Needs Faster Cuts, Labour Congress Says)
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