For example, online restaurant reservations and data from Interac on spending gave a more timely readout of consumer behaviour. Such data became particularly important as the pandemic drove many more customers to do their shopping and other activities online. Similarly, online job postings complemented other indicators we use to assess labour market conditions.
During the pandemic, epidemiological data have also been essential—and  10  we have been talking regularly with epidemiologists and public health officials to interpret these data. The uneven economic impacts of the pandemic further underscore the importance of looking at data broken down in various ways.