Gross domestic product by industry, February 2014
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Released: 2014-04-30
Real gross domestic product grew 0.2% in February.
The output of goods-producing industries rose 0.5%, led by increases in mining and oil and gas extraction as well as manufacturing. Utilities also advanced, while construction was unchanged. In contrast, the agriculture and forestry sector declined.
The output of service industries edged up 0.1% in February. Increases in wholesale trade, retail trade, accommodation and food services as well as the public sector (education, health and public administration combined) were mostly offset by declines in arts and entertainment, professional services and the finance and insurance sector.
Chart 1
Real gross domestic product grows in February
The mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction sector increases
Mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction increased 1.5% in February. Mining and quarrying (excluding oil and gas extraction) rose 4.8%, primarily as a result of increased copper and nickel mining. Oil and gas extraction grew 0.7%, mainly as a result of higher natural gas production. Support activities for mining and oil and gas extraction were up 0.2%.
Chart 2
The mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction sector increases in February
Manufacturing output rises
Manufacturing output rose 0.6% in February, after increasing 1.6% in January. Durable-goods manufacturing grew 0.7%, led by transportation equipment. There were also gains in primary metals and non-metallic mineral products. In contrast, manufacturing of computer and electronic products as well as machinery declined.
Non-durable goods manufacturing rose 0.4% in February. Increases were recorded in chemical, petroleum and coal products and paper manufacturing. These gains were partly offset by declines in the manufacturing of food, textile, clothing and leather products as well as plastic and rubber products.
Wholesale and retail trade grow
Wholesale trade grew 0.6% in February, as almost all major industrial subgroups increased. Gains were notable in wholesaling of farm products, machinery, equipment and supplies and building materials and supplies.
Retail trade rose 0.2% in February as a result of notable gains at health and personal care stores and, to a lesser extent, at general merchandise stores (which includes department stores). Lower activity at motor vehicles and parts dealers partly offset these increases.
The arts and entertainment sector decreases
The arts and entertainment sector declined 5.0% in February, in large part because of the participation of National Hockey League players in the Sochi Winter Olympics and the resulting two-week-plus hiatus in games played in Canada.
Construction is unchanged
Construction was unchanged in February. A gain in engineering construction was offset by declines in residential building construction and, to a lesser extent, in repair works. Non-residential building construction was unchanged in February.
After declining for two consecutive months, the output of real estate agents and brokers increased 0.3% in February, as activity in the home resale market rose.
Other industries
The agriculture and forestry sector declined 1.5% in February, mainly as a result of lower crop production.
Utilities grew 0.5% in February, after falling 0.7% in January. Natural gas distribution rose in February while the electric power generation, transmission and distribution industry also advanced.
The finance and insurance sector declined 0.2% February. A decline in banking services more than offset gains in insurance and financial investment services.
The public sector edged up 0.1%, as a result of gains in health, education and public administration services.
Chart 3
Main industrial sectors' contribution to the percent change in gross domestic product, February 2014
Note to readers
The monthly gross domestic product (GDP) by industry data at basic prices are chained volume estimates with 2007 as the reference year. This means that the data for each industry and each aggregate are obtained from a chained volume index multiplied by the industry's value added in 2007. The monthly data are benchmarked to annually chained Fisher volume indexes of GDP obtained from the constant-price input-output tables up to the latest input-output tables year (2010).
For the period starting with January 2011, the data are derived by chaining a fixed-weight Laspeyres volume index to the prior period. The fixed weights are 2010 industry prices.
This approach makes the monthly GDP by industry data more comparable with the expenditure-based GDP data, chained quarterly.
All data in this release are seasonally adjusted. For more information on seasonal adjustment, see "Seasonal adjustment and identifying economic trends."
Revisions
With this release of monthly GDP by industry, revisions have been made back to January 2013.
For more information about monthly national GDP by industry, see the System of macroeconomic accounts module on our website.
Data on gross domestic product by industry for March will be released on May 30.
Contact information
For more information, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca).
To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Allan Tomas (613-951-9277), Industry Accounts Division.
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