Gross domestic product by industry, July 2014
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Released: 2014-09-30
Real gross domestic product was essentially unchanged in July, following six consecutive monthly gains. Increases of 0.5% and 0.3% were recorded in May and June respectively.
In July, manufacturing and the public sector were the major contributors to growth. Increases were also recorded in construction, professional services and retail trade.
On the other hand, there were notable decreases in mining and oil and gas extraction as well as in utilities. Agriculture, wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing services as well as arts, entertainment and recreation were also down.
Chart 1
Real gross domestic product is essentially unchanged in July
Manufacturing output grows
Manufacturing output grew 1.0% in July. Durable-goods manufacturing rose 1.6%, as almost all industrial sub-groups recorded growth. Increases were notable in transportation equipment, computer and electronic products as well as furniture and related products manufacturing. In contrast, miscellaneous manufacturing decreased.
Non-durable goods manufacturing grew 0.4% in July, mainly as a result of increases in food manufacturing, printing and related support activities as well as in plastic and rubber products manufacturing. In contrast, the manufacturing of chemical, petroleum and coal products as well as beverage and tobacco products declined.
Chart 2
Manufacturing grows in July
The public sector increases
The public sector increased 0.5% in July, mainly as a result of gains in educational services. Educational services grew 1.5% in July, but was still below normal levels of activity as a result of a labour dispute in British Columbia. Health care and social assistance (+0.2%) also grew, while public administration was unchanged in July.
Mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction falls
Mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction fell 1.5% in July, as all major components receded.
After a 0.8% increase in May and a 1.3% gain in June, oil and gas extraction fell 1.6% in July, as a result of declines in both non-conventional and conventional oil production.
Mining and quarrying (excluding oil and gas extraction) also decreased in July (-1.7%), mainly as a result of declines in coal as well as copper, nickel, lead and zinc mining.
Support activities for mining and oil and gas extraction declined 0.9% in July.
Utilities decline
Utilities declined 2.3% in July. There was lower demand for both electricity and natural gas, mainly because of cooler than average temperatures in July in some parts of the country.
Construction grows
Construction grew 0.4% in July, largely because of gains in residential building and repair construction. Engineering construction and non-residential building construction edged up.
The output of real estate agents and brokers increased 0.6% in July, as activity in the home resale market grew.
Wholesale trade declines while retail trade edges up
Wholesale trade declined 0.6% in July. The July decline was primarily due to decreases in miscellaneous wholesaling (which include agricultural supplies) and food, beverage and tobacco wholesaling. The wholesaling of motor vehicles and parts as well as farm products increased.
Retail trade edged up 0.1% in July. Gains were recorded at motor vehicles and parts dealers, furniture and home furnishings stores and, to a much lesser extent, at building materials and garden equipment and supplies stores. On the other hand, there were decreases at clothing and clothing accessories stores, general merchandise stores and food and beverage stores.
Other industries
Professional services advanced 0.5% in July, led by an increase in legal services.
The finance and insurance sector edged up 0.1% in July. Increases in banking and financial investment services were partly offset by a decline in insurance services.
The transportation and warehousing services sector decreased 0.4% in July, mainly as a result of declines in rail and pipeline transportation services.
Chart 3
Main industrial sectors' contribution to the percent change in gross domestic product, July 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 Seasonally adjusted data – Frequently asked questions.
Revisions
With this release of monthly GDP by industry, revisions have been made back to January 2013.
Revisions going back to January 2010 are planned for release on November 28.
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 August will be released on October 31.
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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