BC Stats Infoline
Edition: April 20-24, 2020
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News by Sector
Economy
Major partnership with the Netherlands signed to better support B.C. food security
Government Operations
Community gaming grants improve services, support not-for-profits
Multiculturalism
Japanese Canadian legacies honoured as part of redressing historical wrongs
Services
Interior communities awarded gaming grants to improve services, support not-for-profits
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Infoline Highlights for the Week of April 20-24
Food Services and Drinking Places - Revenues generated in British Columbia’s food service and drinking places industry grew by 0.7% (seasonally adjusted) in February compared to January. Sales for the month were up in all establishment categories, except in limited-service eating places.
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Price of New Housing - The cost of new housing in B.C. went up by 0.4% between February and March. Prices in Vancouver (+0.5%) saw an increase in the period, while prices in Kelowna remained unchanged. Victoria saw prices fall by 0.2% in the month.
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Consumer Price Index - British Columbia’s consumer price index (CPI) was 1.2% higher (unadjusted) in March 2020 than in the same month of 2019. On a monthly basis, the CPI fell 0.5% from February 2020. The overall annual inflation rate increased to 1.6% when food and energy were excluded from the index.
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Retail Sales - Retail sales in British Columbia (seasonally adjusted) grew in February by 1.2% compared to January. The increase was led by higher sales at general merchandise stores and building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers.
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Wholesale Sales - Sales by wholesalers (seasonally adjusted) in British Columbia went up in February to reach $6.5 billion, a 1.6% increase compared to the previous month. The monthly increase was led by motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories wholesales (+10.7%).
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- B.C.'s food services and drinking places saw revenues grow 0.7% in February compared to January, and increase 5.2% from February 2019.
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Current Surveys
- B.C. Electric Vehicle Market Research Survey
- BC Hydro Workforce Profile Survey
- BC Public Service Exit Survey
- BC Public Service New Job Survey
- BC Smoking Cessation Program
- BC Student Outcomes Survey of Apprenticeship and Trades Training Students
- BC Student Outcomes Survey of Diploma, Associate Degree and Certificate Students
- K-12 School Food Survey
- Liquor Distribution Branch Work Environment Survey
- Workforce Development Agreement Outcomes
- Workforce Development Agreement Employer Outcomes
You can read more about any of these by visiting our Current Surveys page.

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Did You Know
Nearly all (96%) Canadians feel that COVID-19 is creating an economic crisis, with 36% having experienced job loss or reductions already, and 63% worried that someone in their family will lose their job. This job anxiety is highest in Alberta (79%), followed by B.C. (67%) and Ontario (62%).
Source: Ipsos Canada
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Headlines
- The price of new housing in B.C. increased in March from the month before.
- B.C.'s rate of inflation rose slightly in March from March 2019.
- Retail sales in B.C. grew between January and February.

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Released last week by BC Stats
- Consumer Price Index
This week
- No releases
