Canadian Economy

CANADIAN ECONOMY

Economy Grows at a Solid 5.6% Annual Rate in First Quarter, Manufacturing Output Up 0.5% in March

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Real GDP in Canada rose at an annualized pace of 5.6% in the first quarter, with the housing market acting as the main driver of growth.
  • The economy expanded 1.1% in March, but a flash estimate indicates that output fell 0.8% in April.
  • Output rose in 16 of 17 major industries in March, with retail trade making the biggest contribution to growth.
  • Manufacturing climbed 0.5%, partly offsetting a 1.5% decline in February.
  • Output was up in 7 of 11 major manufacturing subsectors, led by motor vehicle and parts.
  • Although the first quarter GDP print came in below expectations, it will not result in a dramatic change to the 2021 outlook. While second quarter economic activity has been soft, the worst appears to be behind us. Widespread vaccinations, which are helping to limit infections, should set the stage for robust third quarter growth.

FIRST QUARTER READING SHOWS ECONOMY ON THE MEND

Real GDP in Canada rose at an annualized pace of 5.6% in the first quarter (1.4% non-annualized), building on strong gains in the last half of 2020. Though solid, the first quarter reading was below expectations, largely due to a surprisingly big drawdown in inventories. With these three consecutive quarterly gains, real GDP was down 1.7% compared to the fourth quarter of 2019.

Although the first quarter GDP print came in below expectations, it will not result in a dramatic change to the 2021 outlook. While second quarter economic activity has been soft, due to the third wave of the virus and accompanying containment measures, the worst appears to be behind us. Widespread vaccinations, which are helping to limit infections, should set the stage for robust third quarter growth.

HOUSING MARKET MAIN DRIVER OF GROWTH IN Q1

The housing market was a key driver of growth in the first quarter, fueled by an improved labour market, higher compensation of employees, and favourable mortgage rates. Housing investment rose 9.4%, building on gains of 29.6% in the third quarter and 4.0% in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Real household spending increased 0.7% in the first quarter, with outlays for durable, semi-durable, and non-durable goods all rising solidly. The 1.4% expansion in durable goods spending was largely due to higher purchases of new trucks, vans, and sports utility vehicles.

On the negative side, real business investment in machinery and equipment fell 2.7%, attributable to a sharp decline in investment in aircraft. On the other hand, business investment in non-residential structures climbed 0.6%, the first increase in four quarters, while investment in intellectual property products rose 3.3%. Businesses also drew down $8.7 billion of inventories, which alone subtracted 0.3 percentage points from GDP growth in the first quarter.

Finally, export and import volumes rose 1.5% and 1.1%, respectively, in the first quarter. Consequently, net exports added 0.1 percentage points to GDP growth.

ECONOMY RISES 1.1% IN MARCH

Turning to the monthly data, real GDP rose 1.1% in March, up for the eleventh month in a row. Unfortunately, the streak of consecutive monthly gains appeared to have ended in April. A Statistics Canada flash estimate indicates that real GDP fell 0.8% that month, the first decline since a steep fall last April.

ECONOMIC GAINS WIDESPREAD

The GDP gains in March were broad-based, spanning 16 of 17 major industries. Retail trade led the way with 3.7% output growth, thanks to the continued easing of restrictions and above seasonal temperatures, the latter of which helped fuel strong activity at building material and garden equipment and supplies retailers.

Construction rose 2.2% in March, the fourth straight monthly increase. All subsectors were up, with residential building construction contributing the most to growth.

Wholesale trade expanded 1.8% in March, more than offsetting a 1.4% decline in February. The gains were led by building material and supplies wholesaling.

The mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction industry climbed 1.9% in March, largely offsetting a 2.4% decline in February. All three subsectors were up, including a 1.6% increase in oil and gas extraction, its sixth gain in seven months.

Accommodation and food services expanded 5.0% in March. The increase was driven by an 11.0% gain in accommodation services, which coincided with the start of the mandatory hotel quarantine program for air travelers arriving in Canada.

MANUFACTURING UP 0.5% IN MARCH

Manufacturing output rose 0.5% in March, partly offsetting a 1.5% decline in February. This left the sector’s output 3.8% below the pre-pandemic level. For the first quarter of 2021, manufacturing output was up a modest 0.6%.

MANUFACTURING GAINS LED BY MOTOR VEHICLE AND PARTS SECTOR

Manufacturing output was up in 7 of 11 major subsectors. Motor vehicle and parts output rose 5.1%, its first increase in six months. The industry continues to be battered by a global shortage of semiconductors, but it enjoyed a temporary reprieve in March. However, even with this gain, the industry’s output was 14.6% below the pre-pandemic level. Among major manufacturing subsectors, only aerospace is further from a full recovery.

The plastics and rubber products industry also had a strong month, with output up 4.4% in March. This partly made up for a 6.7% decline in February. In more good news, petroleum and coal products output rose 4.0%, up for the second month in a row.

On the negative side, after declining 2.5% in February, food manufacturing output fell an additional 1.9% in March. This was the industry’s worst two-month performance since the deep dive last spring. At the same time, output in the chemicals sector contracted 2.2%, following a 1.1% decline in February. Output was also down in March in machinery (-1.5%) and in aerospace (-0.3%).