Chart 7: Weak demand is holding back firms’ plans to invest and hire https://www.bankofcanada.ca/?p=239538 Investment spending, change over the next 12 months (balance of opinion*) Historical average balance of opinion, investment spending Number of employees, change over the next 12 months (balance of opinion†) Historical average balance of opinion, number of employees 35163834 29165834 17163434 29164034 24164534 17165134 33163934 25164134 20163534 20163634 28163134 11164334 12162834 -30162334 2162634 26164334 40164534 36166534 46166734 47167734 42166334 37166634 29164734 20163534 19164534 14163434 7162734 22162134 0163234 11162634