Following large gains in April, employment rose by 25,000 in May, the fifth consecutive monthly increase. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 8.1%. Since the start of the upward trend in July 2009, employment has risen by 1.8% or 310,000.
Ontario's employment was up 18,000 in May, all in full-time work. The increase in May brings employment gains in that province to 127,000 (+1.9%) since July 2009, a rate of growth similar to the national average (+1.8%). In May, the unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage points to 8.9% as more people entered the labour market.
May's employment increase was mainly among women aged 55 and over (+17,000). Since July 2009, employment has grown the fastest among men aged 55 and over (+5.0%), followed by women aged 55 and over (+3.1%).
Friday, June 4, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
May Sales Remain High
According to TREB (Toronto Real Estate Board), Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 9,470 sales through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in May, representing a one percent dip from May 2009. In comparison to previous years, this was the third highest May sales result on record.
TREB's President, Tom Lebour says “The pace of transactions slowed in May following record-setting sales in February, March and April,”. He also added that, “Buyers who otherwise would have been purchasing a home in May moved more quickly this year, likely to get ahead of mortgage rate hikes.”
New listings were up 38% annually to 18,940. The average price for May transactions was $446,593 – up 13% compared to the average of $395,609 recorded in May 2009.
“The gap between listings and sales has widened, which means there is more choice for buyers,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis. “The annual rate of price growth will slow in the second half of 2010, from the current double digit pace into the single digits.”
The median price in May was $376,750, from the $337,000 recorded during May of 2009.
TREB's President, Tom Lebour says “The pace of transactions slowed in May following record-setting sales in February, March and April,”. He also added that, “Buyers who otherwise would have been purchasing a home in May moved more quickly this year, likely to get ahead of mortgage rate hikes.”
New listings were up 38% annually to 18,940. The average price for May transactions was $446,593 – up 13% compared to the average of $395,609 recorded in May 2009.
“The gap between listings and sales has widened, which means there is more choice for buyers,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis. “The annual rate of price growth will slow in the second half of 2010, from the current double digit pace into the single digits.”
The median price in May was $376,750, from the $337,000 recorded during May of 2009.
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