Canadian economy flat in August, September seen down 0.1 percent

Canadian gross domestic product by industry was essentially unchanged in August for a second straight month, Statistics Canada said, and its advance estimate has September down 0.1 percent, leaving third quarter growth at 0.3 percent.

Why it matters: Two flat months and a negative advance estimate for September leave the economy stalled into the autumn, with wholesale trade the largest drag in August and the federal census unwind still pulling the public sector down.

Data as of Correction 2026-10-30T09:18:30-04:00: the first version of this item, published minutes earlier, carried figures from a summary that did not match the release itself, including the July revision, the goods and services split and the September advance estimate; it has been rewritten in full. Statistics Canada Daily release of October 30, 2026 (gross domestic product by industry, August 2026, Table 36-10-0434-01), read in full from the agency's own page in this run; every figure is Statistics Canada's own. Developing item.

Real gross domestic product was essentially unchanged in August, the second straight month with no growth, after July was revised to unchanged as well. Nine of the 20 industrial sectors expanded. Goods producing industries edged up 0.1 percent, with manufacturing up 0.3 percent and construction up 0.2 percent partly offset by a 0.4 percent fall in utilities, while mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction was essentially unchanged. Services producing industries edged down 0.1 percent.

Wholesale trade fell 1.4 percent, the largest drag on the month, and retail trade rose 1.2 percent, more than offsetting its July contraction. The public sector fell 0.2 percent, its first decline in six months, as federal government public administration dropped 2.1 percent with the temporary 2026 Census work continuing to wind down. Statistics Canada’s advance estimate has real GDP down 0.1 percent in September, which would leave the economy up 0.3 percent in the third quarter as a whole.

Canadian economy flat in August, September seen down 0.1 percent

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