Report: Average Canadian weekly pay $888 OTTAWA, March 30 (UPI) -- Annual inflation outpaced gains in the average Canadian weekly salary in January, Statistics Canada reported Friday. On an annual basis, the average non-farm weekly pay in January was $888.89, a 2 percent increase. Inflation was pegged at 2.5 percent in January. StatsCan noted the average hours worked per week continued to decline for a third consecutive month. "Non-farm payroll employees worked 32.9 hours per week on average in January, down from 33 hours a year earlier," the agency said. By sector, weekly salaries in retail trade posted the highest annual increase, up 5.6 percent to $523.72. The average weekly pay in construction increased 3.1 percent to $1,105.70. "Average weekly earnings in healthcare and social assistance fell 1.7 percent to $800.39 in the 12 months to January, with the decline occurring in social assistance, hospitals and ambulatory healthcare services," the report said.