The Ivey Business School Purchasing Managers Index (PMI),
measuring Canada’s economic activity, climbed 1.6 points to 56.3 in December from
an unrevised 54.7 in November. The latest print pointed to a growth in the private sector’s
activity for the fifth straight month and also
marked the highest reading since April (56.8).
A reading above 50 signals expansion, while below
50 indicates contraction.
According to the report, the deliveries index surged by 6.4
points to 57.8, indicating an increase in
deliveries for the second month in a row. In addition, the employment measure increased
by 2.6 points to 57.9, the highest level in three months. The prices indicator rose by 2.4 points to 64.5, the highest
level since September (67.3). Meanwhile, the inventories gauge fell by 1.4
points to 49.1, returning to the contraction territory after a
two-month growth.