National Business

The coronavirus pandemic that forced the shutdown of businesses across Rhode Island sent the state’s unemployment rate soaring to 17% in April, the state Department of Labor and Training announced Thursday. That’s up from 4.7% in March and 3.

As publishers try to deal with the massive disruption to the book industry in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many are bracing for another big blow that could arrive over the coming weeks as more retailers open their doors.

FREDERICTON — The New Brunswick government is now forecasting a deficit of $299 million dollars for 2020-21, instead of the $92 million surplus it projected when it released its budget this spring.

CALGARY — The operators of the $9.7-billion Sturgeon Refinery say it is now processing oilsands bitumen as designed after two years of delays blamed mainly on equipment failures.

More retailers have announced layoffs and store closures at their Canadian operations as they continue to grapple with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Canada Goose Holdings Inc. announced Wednesday it would lay off 125 employees, or about 2.

CALGARY — Canada's oilfield services sector is in for "an immense amount of pain" over at least the next year thanks to low North American oil and gas exploration activity amid a worldwide glut of cheap crude, according to a report from CIBC.

MONTREAL — Landing gear manufacturer Heroux-Devtek Inc. intends to focus on the defence side of its business to overcome a slow recovery expected in commercial aviation due to COVID-19.

CINCINNATI — Bill Keating is remembered widely as gentlemanly, considerate and modest. Underneath that genial exterior was a fiercely competitive and driven athlete, lawyer, politician and news executive. He was highly successful in all those fields.

DORVAL, Que. — Canada's Transportation Safety Board is calling on the federal government to simplify its rules around airplane landings to prevent approaches in poor visibility.

WASHINGTON — Sales of existing homes plunged 17.8% in April with the real estate market still in the grips of the coronavirus pandemic.