Prime Minister Stephen Harper will hold a first ministers’ meeting Monday on the slowing Canadian economy.

Harper will meet with the ministers in Ottawa as they contend with falling revenues in the wake of a global financial crisis.

Also on Monday, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. reports on housing starts for October. Annualized starts of 200,000 are forecast, down from 217,600 in September.

Meanwhile, Statistics Canada releases its new-housing price index for September. Economists expect a decline of 0.1%, compared with no change in the prior month.

On Thursday, StatsCan reports on the trade balance for September. Economists expect a trade surplus of $5-billion, down from $5.8-billion in August.

On Friday, StatsCan reports on manufacturing shipments for September. Economists forecast a decline of 2%, compared with a decline of 3.7% in the prior month.

Separately, the federal government agency reports on new vehicle sales for September. Sales are expected to have risen 1% on an annualized basis, compared with a decline of 2.3% in the prior month.

U.S. and overseas

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Commerce reports on the trade balance for September. Economists forecast the trade deficit narrowing to US$57 billion from US$59.1 billion in August.

Overseas, the International Energy Agency publishes its monthly oil market report.

On Friday, the U.S. Commerce Department reports on retail sales for October. Economists forecast an overall decline of 1.5%, compared with a drop of 1.2% in September. With auto sales stripped out, a 1% fall is expected, compared with a 0.6% drop in September.

Corporate earnings

On Monday, WestJet Airlines Ltd. reports third-quarter earnings, as does Nortel, Ballard Power Systems Inc., Jaguar Mining Inc., and Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.

On Tuesday, CI Financial Income Fund reports its third-quarter results, as does Cameco Corp., Cinram International Inc., and Rona Inc.

On Wednesday, Thomson Reuters Corp. reports third-quarter earnings, as does Algoma Steel Inc., Boralex Inc., Corby Distilleries Ltd., and Northern Property REIT.

On Thursday, Loblaw Cos. Inc. reports third-quarter earnings, as does TimberWest Forest Corp. and Western Canadian Coal.

On Friday, CanWest Global Communications Corp. posts fourth-quarter results.