An economic snapshot: By the numbers

Key economic figures from the past month:

1.6 per cent The sluggish rate of GDP growth that National Bank Financial now expects for Canada in 2013.

70,000 The number of part-time and full-time workers Wal-Mart is adding in preparation for the holiday shopping season.

$23 million Sum of a class-action settlement with four candy-makers accused of fixing the price of chocolate in Canada.

$800 million Total first-day sales of the latest Grand Theft Auto video game, marking Take Two Interactive Software’s best-ever debut.

$40 billion Amount Microsoft plans to spend on a share buyback to appease shareholders, while also increasing its dividend by 22 per cent.