The coming week will bring release of reports on Canada’s trade surplus and the housing market, along with federal election leaders debates.

The debates — on Monday in English and Tuesday in French — will come ahead of a national vote on Jan. 23. Recent polls have suggested the Conservative party is overtaking the Liberals in a tight race.

On the economic front, Tuesday brings two reports on the health of the Canadian housing market.

Statistics Canada reports on building permits for November, 2005. Economist forecast the value of permits to slip by 0.9%.

Separately, StatsCan agency is also releasing new housing price index figures for that month. Economists forecast an increase of 0.5%.

On Thursday, the government agency releases a report the trade balance for November. Analysts are expecting a Canadian surplus of $7 billion, helped by strong vehicle shipments.

Bank of Canada deputy governor Sheryl Kennedy gives a speech to the International Financial Club of Montreal on Canada’s monetary policy framework: dealing with global economic change
On Friday, StatsCan releases new motor vehicle sales data for November, 2005. Economists forecast a 3% increase.


South of the border, the flow of U.S. economic news will get a late start.

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Labor releases initial jobless claims figures for the week ending Jan. 7. Economists forecast 320,000 new claims.

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Commerce reports retail sales numbers for December, 2005. Economists expect an increase of 0.9%.

Separately, Commerce reports business inventories data for November, 2005. Economists forecast a 0.4% rise.

The U.S. Department of Labor releases producer price index figures for December, 2005. Economists expect an increase of 0.4%.

The University of Michigan issues its preliminary index of consumer sentiment in January.

Corporate earnings

The profit-reporting season gets under way Monday with the release of the fourth-quarter results for Alcoa Inc.

Other companies reporting results this week include: Jean Coutu Group (PJC) Inc.; CI Financial Inc.; Exfo Electro-Optical Engineering Inc.; CanWest MediaWorks Income Fund; Cogeco Inc.; Cogeco Cable Inc.; CanWest Global Communications Corp.; and CHUM Ltd.