Thursday, February 26, 2004Released at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time MAJOR RELEASES Canada's balance of international payments, fourth quarter 2003 Canada's current account surplus with the rest of the world declined $1.2 billion in the fourth quarter to $6.7 billion on a seasonally adjusted basis. Retail trade, 2003 and December 2003 Lower demand for motor vehicles in December, coupled with poor sales in general merchandise and clothing stores, pulled total retail sales to their lowest level in a year. Retail sales dropped 1.2% in December, capping a relatively disappointing year for retail trade. In 2003, sales by retailers increased 3.1% from 2002, when sales had jumped 6.0%. Wholesale trade, 2003 and December 2003 Wholesale sales increased 0.8% in December. Despite this latest increase, wholesalers saw their sales grow only 3.6% in 2003, down sharply from 2002. OTHER RELEASES Payroll employment, earnings and hours, December 2003 Legal aid in Canada: Resource and caseload statistics, 2002/03 Public sector employment, fourth quarter 2003 Stocks of frozen and chilled meats, February 2004 NEW PRODUCTS
