(Ottawa) Real gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.4% in August in Canada, mainly due to increases in accommodation and food services, retail trade and transportation.
GDP fell 0.1% in July after rising 0.6% in June.
Statistics Canada found that in August, the continued easing of public health restrictions and continued stimulus across the country increased demand in many service-producing industries where face-to-face interactions are required.
For example, food services and drinking places rose 5.4% in August after advancing 8.1% in July, and the accommodation services subsector advanced 11.3%.
Air transport grew 24.2% in August, but activity in the sub-sector remains low and was 77% below its level posted before the pandemic.
Retail trade increased 1.8% in August, with 9 of 12 subsectors posting increases. Food stores posted the largest gain, 3.8%.
The data is worse for the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector, which fell 5.7% after declining 5.5% in July. Statistics Canada reports that record heat and drought conditions in western Canada have severely affected production.
Overall, 15 of the 20 industries across the country posted increases in August.
Preliminary information indicates that real GDP was essentially unchanged in September.