Leading Indicator of Industry Profitability: April 2012

The monthly Leading Indicator of Industry Profitability is constructed from high frequency data series. The indicators are designed to be predictive of movements in corporate profitability six months hence. An industry leading index is created for the economy as a whole, as well as for 49 individual sectors within the economy, thus providing coverage for most of the private business activity that takes place in Canada.

Document Highlights

• The leading indicator of industry profitability has been virtually unchanged since November, as economic indicators remain mixed.
• Of the 49 industries covered here, only 11 are now recording declines in their indexes. The declines are largely concentrated in the manufacturing sector.