OTTAWA - There was growth in both the goods and services industries as economic activity increased 0.1 per cent in January, down from 0.4 per cent in December.
The energy sector recorded a robust gain due to strong natural gas production and a rebound in oil-and-gas exploration, while construction, forestry and financial services also posted increases.
The gains were partly offset by declines in manufacturing, retail trade and in some tourism-related industries.
The energy sector advanced 1.5 per cent in January, with natural gas production rising sharply, crude oil production falling, and oil-and-gas exploration rebounding at an 11 rate after five months of decline; electricity production posted a gain of 1.4 per cent.
Output in the mining sector, excluding oil and natural gas, slipped 0.1 per cent, metal mines dropped 1.9 per cent, and non-metallic mineral mines registered a 2.4 per cent gain.
Manufacturing output fell one per cent in January while overall, non-durable goods manufacturing edged up 0.4 per cent, durable goods retreated 1.9 per cent, motor vehicle production tumbled 12 per cent and motor vehicle parts production fell 2.7 per cent.
The construction sector rose for the eighth consecutive month in January, up 0.5 per cent, while wholesale trade edged up 0.1 per cent.
