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Gross domestic product by industry, March 2016

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Released: 2016-05-31

Real GDP by industry

March 2016

-0.2% 

(monthly change)

Real gross domestic product decreased 0.2% in March, after edging down 0.1% in February. The decline in March came primarily from mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction and retail trade.

The mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector was the main reason for a 0.8% decline in the output of goods-producing industries. Manufacturing and the agriculture and forestry sector were also down. There was a rise in construction output, while utilities were essentially unchanged.

The output of service-producing industries was essentially unchanged in March. Notable drops in retail trade and, to a lesser extent, the transportation and warehousing sector were offset by small gains in several service industries. Wholesale trade was also down, while the public sector (education, health and public administration combined) edged up.

Chart 1  Chart 1: Real gross domestic product falls in March
Real gross domestic product falls in March

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction contracts

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction contracted 2.8% in March, following a 0.6% decline in February.

Chart 2  Chart 2: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction contracts in March
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction contracts in March

Support activities for mining and oil and gas extraction fell 14% in March, as a result of declines in rigging and drilling services. Output of support activities for mining and oil and gas extraction in March were at low levels last seen in early 2015.

Mining and quarrying (excluding oil and gas extraction) decreased 3.7%, because of declines in metal ore and potash mining.

Following a 0.3% decline in February, oil and gas extraction contracted a further 0.8% in March. Conventional oil and gas extraction declined, as lower production of oil more than offset higher production of natural gas. Non-conventional oil extraction also decreased.

Retail and wholesale trade decline

After two consecutive monthly increases, retail trade contracted 1.3% in March. The decline was widespread across all types of retailers. The most significant contributor to the decline was a 3.9% decrease at motor vehicles and parts dealers, which had peaked in February.

Wholesale trade decreased 0.3% in March. Output declined for miscellaneous wholesalers (including wholesalers of agricultural supplies) and wholesalers of farm products. Lower exports resulted in lower output from motor vehicles and parts wholesalers. Output rose for wholesalers of machinery, equipment and supplies, petroleum products, and food, beverage and tobacco.

Decrease in manufacturing due to durable goods

Manufacturing output declined 0.2% in March, after falling 0.9% in February.

Durable-goods manufacturing fell 0.9% in March, mainly as a result of a decline in transportation equipment manufacturing. There was lower production of motor vehicles and parts, aerospace products and parts, and other transportation equipment. Decreases were also registered by manufacturers of non-metallic mineral products, miscellaneous products and fabricated metal products.

Non-durable goods manufacturing rose 0.6%, a second consecutive monthly increase. Gains were notable in the manufacturing of petroleum and coal products, meat products, and pharmaceutical and medicinal products.

Construction edges up

Construction edged up 0.1% in March, mainly as a result of a fourth consecutive monthly rise in residential construction. Non-residential building construction also rose, while repair construction declined and engineering and other construction activities continued on their downward trend that began in late 2014.

The output of real estate agents and brokers rose 2.2%, up for the sixth consecutive month, as a result of increased activity in the home resale market.

The finance and insurance sector grows

The finance and insurance sector grew 0.4% in March, as a result of higher output from financial investment services, funds and other financial vehicles.

The public sector edges up

The public sector (education, health and public administration combined) edged up 0.1% in March. Education and health services edged up, while public administration edged down.

Other industries

Transportation and warehousing services fell 0.6% in March, primarily as a result of a 4.0% decline in rail transportation. The decrease in rail transportation was mainly attributable to freight car loadings, which were down because of lower mining and quarrying output.

Utilities were essentially unchanged in March, as an increase in natural gas distribution was offset by a decrease in electric power generation, transmission and distribution.

Chart 3  Chart 3: Main industrial sectors' contribution to the percent change in gross domestic product in March
Main industrial sectors' contribution to the percent change in gross domestic product in March

First quarter of 2016

The value added of service industries rose 0.6% in the first quarter, the highest growth rate since the third quarter of 2014. The value added of goods-producing industries increased 0.2%, following the decline in the previous quarter.

The public sector (education, health and public administration combined), real estate and rental and leasing, and retail trade were the main contributors to growth in the service industries in the first quarter. The finance and insurance, transport and warehousing services, and professional, scientific and technical services sectors also rose. Wholesale trade edged up.

After three consecutive quarterly declines, utilities rose 1.1% in the first quarter, as a result of a rise in electric power generation, transmission and distribution. Output from manufacturing (+0.5%) and the mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction sector (+0.5%) increased. On the other hand, construction (-0.4%) declined for the fifth consecutive quarter after peaking in the fourth quarter of 2014. The sixth straight quarterly decrease in engineering construction more than offset a rise in residential construction in the first quarter. The agriculture and forestry sector was down after gains in the previous four quarters.



  Note to readers

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. Monthly data are benchmarked to annually chained Fisher volume indexes of GDP obtained from the constant-price supply and use tables (SUT) up to the latest SUT year (2012).

For the period starting with January 2013, the data are derived by chaining a fixed-weight Laspeyres volume index to the prior period. The fixed weights are 2012 industry prices.

This approach makes the monthly GDP by industry data more comparable with expenditure-based GDP data, which are chained quarterly.

All data in this release are seasonally adjusted. For information on seasonal adjustment, see Seasonally adjusted data – Frequently asked questions.

For more information on GDP, see the video, "What is Gross Domestic Product (GDP)?"

Revisions

With this release of monthly GDP by industry, revisions have been made back to January 2015.

Each month, newly available administrative and survey data across various industries in the economy are integrated and result in statistical revisions. Updated and revised administrative data (including taxation statistics), new information provided by respondents to industry surveys, and standard changes to seasonal adjustment calculations are incorporated with each release.

For more information about monthly national GDP by industry, see the System of Macroeconomic Accounts module on our website.

Real-time CANSIM tables

Real-time CANSIM table 379-8031 will be updated on June 8. For more information, consult the document, Real-time CANSIM tables.

Next release

Data on GDP by industry for April will be released on June 30.

Contact information

For more information, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca).

To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Allan Tomas (613-790-6570), Industry Accounts Division.

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