View the Archive..May 25, 2012PENSION PLANS IN CANADA, AS OF JANUARY 1, 2011 As of January 1, 2011, there were 19,463 registered pension plans (RPP) in Canada, up 1.8% from a year ago.
Membership in RPPs increased 0.7% from 2009 to 6,065,750 in 2010. The number of members in public sector pension plans rose 1.8% to 3,140,970, while membership in private sector plans declined 0.5% to 2,924,790 in 2010 over 2009. As a result, the private sector accounted for 48% of total membership in RPPs, down from 54% a decade earlier, and almost 60% in the early 1980s.
On an industry basis, the biggest decline (-21,480) in RPP membership in 2010 was registered in the manufacturing sector, following a decline of 62,000 in 2009. In 2010, the RPP membership rose in public administration (+38,650), educational services and health care (+17,410) and finance, insurance and real estate (+8,410).
In 2010, 74% employees (4,484,000) with an RPP were in a defined benefit pension plans, down 1.0% from 2009, and down more than 10% a decade earlier.
In 2010, 16% (969,210) of all RPP members were in defined contribution plans, up 0.8% from 2009. Nearly 85% of members in defined contribution plans were in the private sector.
Hybrid plans continued their upward trend. To reduce the cost of their pension plans, a number of employers closed the defined benefit component to new employees and added a defined contribution component. Existing employees have the option to remain members of the defined benefit component. In 2010, these hybrid plans accounted for about 10% of total pension plan membership. In 2010, more than 612,530 employees belonged to hybrid plans, up 15% from 2009.
In 2010, total employer and employee contributions to RPPs increased to $54.2 billion. Employer contributions for unfunded liabilities accounted for $10.8 billion, down from $12.6 billion in 2009. When payments for unfunded liabilities are excluded, employers contributed 63% and employees, 37%.
The market value of assets in RPPs was $1.2 trillion in 2010, up 10.6% from 2009. Employer pension plans have recovered all losses experienced during the recent economic downturn. Assets declined 12% in 2008.
Source: Statistics Canada, Pension Plans in Canada Survey as of January 1, 2011.
May 24, 2012EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE MARCH 2012 In March 2012 5.4% more Nova Scotians were regular EI beneficiaries than in the previous month (seasonally adjusted), up by 1,610 persons to reach 31,420. This is 2.0% fewer regular beneficiaries than in March 2011.
Canadian EI recipients decreased by 2,490 persons, or 0.5% in March 2012 from February 2012, falling from 551,900 to 549,410. This level is 9.3% lower compared to a year earlier.
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May 24, 2012QUARTERLY FINANCIAL STATISTICS FOR ENTERPRISES 1ST QUARTER 2012 Operating profits* for Canadian corporations were unchanged from the 4th quarter 2011. Gains in the financial sector were largely offset by declines in the non-financial sector. In the financial sector, operating profits increased 20.3% to $20.7 billion. In the non-financial sector, operating profits decreased 5.9% to $54.4 billion.
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May 23, 2012RETAIL TRADE MARCH 2012 
Nova Scotia
In Nova Scotia March 2012, retail sales (seasonally adjusted) decreased 0.3% from February 2012 to $1.1 billion and increased 1.4% over March 2011. On a year-to-date basis, retail sales increased 3.1% over Jan-Mar 2011.
Unadjusted Retail sales increased $153.8 million over February. The largest monthly increase was in motor vehicle sales ($54.6 million) and the smallest increase was in miscellaneous stores ($2.2 million).
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May 23, 2012LEADING INDICATORS APRIL 2012 NOTE: This is the final release of this series, which is being discontinued.
In Canada April 2012, the composite leading indicator (1992=100) increased 0.3 points from March 2012 to 265.8. This was the tenth consecutive increase in the index.
Seven of ten indicators increased:
Housing index +3.5%; Business and personal services +0.2; S&P/TSX stock price index +0.1%; money supply +0.4%; US Conference Board leading indicator +0.4%; furniture and appliances +0.5%. and other durable goods sales +0.6%.
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