Wednesday, February 25, 2004Released at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time MAJOR RELEASES International travel account, 2003 and fourth quarter 2003 Canada's international travel deficit reached its highest level in ten years, mainly because of a plunge in spending by foreign visitors to Canada in 2003. The deficit increased from $1.9 billion in 2002 to an estimated $4.3 billion in 2003. Financial statistics for enterprises, 2003 and fourth quarter 2003 Canadian corporations earned a record $168.3 billion in operating profits in 2003, surpassing the previous high of $165.1 billion earned in 2000. Led by the depository credit intermediaries and oil and gas producers, profits jumped 15.1% from 2002 levels. On a quarterly basis, fourth quarter profits rose 3.3% to $42.9 billion, following a similar advance in the third quarter. Private and public investment, 2004 intentions Businesses, governments and institutions intend to allocate more than $223 billion in 2004 for capital spending on plant, equipment and housing, a 3.1% increase from 2003. Housing, business and government are all expected to contribute to the increases in 2004. OTHER RELEASES Study: Seniors at work: An update, 2001 Aircraft movement statistics, January 2004 Placement of hatchery chicks and turkey poults, January 2004 Coal mining, 2002 FEATURED PRODUCT Perspectives on Labour and Income, February 2004 online edition NEW PRODUCTS
