National Business

VANCOUVER — Greater Vancouver's real estate board says the number of homes that changed hands in March fell from the previous year, as total sales were nearly one-third lower than the 10-year average.

TORONTO — DesRosiers Automotive Consultants Inc. says March auto sales were up 9.2 per cent from last year, but it marks a slowdown from a record February gain.

OTTAWA — Bureaucracy makes it too difficult for Canadian tech companies to sell to government, a new report from an industry group says — and all that red tape is keeping them from a bigger piece of the billions spent on procurement.

Canadians are continuing to be laid off as part of a wave of job cuts that began in 2023 as companies assessed their operations after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic passed.

Australian lithium company Winsome Resources has signed a call option agreement that will allow it to buy the Renard diamond mine in northern Quebec and its associated infrastructure for $52 million.

TORONTO — Indigo Books & Music Inc. has agreed to be taken private after agreeing to a sweetened offer from a holding company connected to its largest shareholder. The retailer says its agreement will see Trilogy Retail Holdings Inc.

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The inflation that has squeezed European shoppers fell more than expected in March to 2.4%, as cost spikes in the grocery aisle eased and overall price rises headed down in the two biggest economies, Germany and France.

CALGARY — Persistent drought conditions are poised to challenge natural gas producers even as they aim to ramp up in anticipation of Canada's first liquefied natural gas export terminal opening, a new report warns.

VANCOUVER — West Fraser Timber Co. and Mercer International Inc. are dissolving their 50/50 joint venture in Cariboo Pulp and Paper. Vancouver-based West Fraser will be the sole owner and operator of the mill.

TORONTO — Bell Media president Sean Cohan says recent layoffs and programming cuts are something he doesn’t take lightly, but were necessary to accelerate the company’s goals in the digital media landscape.