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Weekly data on real-time local business conditions are now available for November 15 to 21, 2021.

It’s been a challenging year for most Canadian apple farmers. Heatwaves in British Columbia and Ontario this summer and cold snaps in Eastern Ontario and Quebec this spring could slash production by 10% from a year earlier, according to industry estimates.

The university fall semester is wrapping up and students across Canada are busy turning in course assignments and studying for final exams. Some overwhelmed students may be questioning whether the effort is worth it. We’ve got a range of data and studies that can help students make an informed decision about their academic future.

While older Canadians may be more likely than their younger counterparts to require help and care in their daily lives, almost one-quarter of Canadian seniors aged 65 years and older are caregivers themselves. And while the roles and responsibilities of these senior caregivers may have changed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges they face could be heightened.

Demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) among businesses stayed the same in August. Aside from a decrease in demand for PPE from February to May 2021, demand for PPE has been stable since December 2020. However, in August, more businesses had concerns about shortages of essential PPE, especially businesses in educational services.