According to Statistics Canada, real gross domestic product rose 0.6 percent in January, a fourth consecutive monthly increase. Manufacturing, retail trade, and mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction were major contributors to growth in January.
The output of goods-producing industries grew 1.2 percent in January, mainly as a result of increases in manufacturing and mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction. Utilities, construction, and the agriculture and forestry sector also rose.
The output of service-producing industries rose 0.4 percent, a fourth consecutive monthly gain. Notable increases were posted in retail trade, the finance and insurance sector, the public sector (education, health and public administration combined) as well as transportation and warehousing services. In contrast, wholesale trade and the arts, entertainment and recreation sector declined.
Following a 1.1 percent gain in December, manufacturing output expanded 1.9 percent in January. Durable-goods manufacturing rose 2.6 percent in January, after expanding 1.2 percent in December and 0.9 percent in November. Gains were notable in the manufacturing of motor vehicles and parts, fabricated metal products, and non-metallic mineral products in January. In contrast, machinery manufacturing decreased.
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction rose 0.9 percent in January, after decreasing 0.1 percent in December. Following a 6.8 percent decrease in December, support activities for mining and oil and gas extraction grew 2.3 percent in January, partly because of an increase in drilling services.
Construction grew 0.5 percent in January. Engineering construction, residential building construction and repair construction increased. In contrast, non-residential building construction declined.
Transportation and warehousing services rose 1.4 percent in January, mainly as result of gains in rail and pipeline transportation.