Canada Feb job losses more severe than forecast

OTTAWA, March 13 (Reuters) - Canada's economy lost more jobs than expected in February as the global downturn triggered widespread layoffs, another sign the country's recession may be more severe than many previously thought.

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Statistics Canada said net job losses totaled 82,600 in the month, compared with forecasts for a decline of 52,500. It was the fourth straight month of declines. The jobless rate climbed to 7.7 percent, the highest since a rate of 7.9 percent in September 2003 and above the market forecast of 7.4 percent. More...

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