(Adds details from report)
TORONTO, July 7 (Reuters) - The pace of purchasing activity
in Canada picked up in June as measures of employment and
inventories jumped, according to Ivey Purchasing Managers Index
data released on Thursday.
The seasonally adjusted index rose to 51.7 from 49.4 in May,
beating analysts' expectations for a rise to 51.0. A reading
below 50 indicates a decrease in the pace of activity.
The unadjusted index fell to 54.7 from 58.4.
On an adjusted basis, employment rose to 52.5 from 49.3, its
highest since January and potentially boding well for a key
federal employment report due on Friday. The inventories
component surged to 55.1 from 49.6.
Supplier deliveries retreated to 47.3 from 53.3, while
prices pulled back to 59.7 from 63.1.