Here's what P.E.I. looked like in 2015, in 3 easy pieces

Highlights from P.E.I.'s 2015 Annual Statistical Review, released this week.

A good year for lobster, and cars

Lobster landings and motor vehicle sales hit all-time highs.

• Lobster landings reached 32.2 million pounds valued at $150.2 million.
• 7,976 new motor vehicles were sold in 2015, valued at $243.0 million.

Also hitting an all-time high, the number of Islanders: 146,447 on July 1, 2015, an increase of 0.2 per cent over 2014.

A growing economy

The P.E.I. economy grew 1.5 per cent in 2015, spurred by big jumps in exports and housing starts.

• Housing starts totaled 558, an increase of 9.2 per cent
• International exports increased by 16.4 per cent, to $1.3 billion
• Retail sales increased by 2.3 per cent

On the down side, farm cash receipts were $466.7 million, a decrease of 1.8 per cent.

A mixed job picture

Employment averaged 73,200, a decrease of 800 or 1.1 per cent.

With fewer people looking for work, the unemployment rate was down 0.2 percentage points, averaging 10.4 per cent.

Despite fewer jobs, total labour income increased by 3.6 per cent.

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