Statistics Canada's October 30 GDP report shows a second month of effectively flat output and an advance September estimate of a 0.1% decline.
A second month without growth
Real gross domestic product by industry was effectively unchanged in August 2026, Statistics Canada reported October 30. Nine of 20 industrial sectors expanded, but the gains were offset elsewhere. Goods-producing industries edged up 0.1%, while services-producing industries decreased 0.1%. This is a monthly, inflation-adjusted measure of output for August; it is not a reading of October economic activity or the official quarterly GDP-by-expenditure statistic.
Stores and factories gain ground
Retail activity grew 1.2% after a weaker July, helped by motor-vehicle and parts dealers (+1.8%), food and beverage retailers (+1.3%) and general merchandise stores (+1.5%). Manufacturing increased 0.3%, with machinery manufacturing gaining 3.8%. Petroleum refineries expanded 4.2% as operations resumed following July maintenance, but transportation-equipment manufacturing declined 3.1%, partly due to an extended automotive assembly shutdown.
Wholesale and government pull back
Wholesale trade contracted 1.4%, making it a prominent drag on monthly growth. Motor-vehicle wholesalers fell 4.4%. The wider public-sector aggregate declined 0.2%; federal public administration excluding defence fell 2.1% as temporary census activities tapered. Rail transportation grew 3.6%, aided by grain shipments, while oil and gas extraction dropped 1.2% and utilities decreased 0.4%. Strength and weakness across sectors help explain why the economy's overall level remained flat.
September remains preliminary
Statistics Canada's early September indicator suggests real GDP by industry fell 0.1%. Its partial data imply about 0.3% growth in the third quarter, but the agency explicitly warns that the September estimate will be revised. Official September industry GDP and third-quarter expenditure-based GDP are scheduled for November 30. Monthly data can be revised when administrative and survey records arrive, so the first estimate should not be treated as the final figure.
Sources & transparency
Statistics Canada, The Daily — Gross domestic product by industry, August 2026Original CDN News coverage. Sources are linked for reference.
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