March 04, 2025
Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 0.2% in December, partially offsetting the decline recorded in November. Both services-producing and good-producing industries were up, contributing to the fifth increase in the last six months. Overall, 11 of 20 industrial sectors rose in December.
Services-producing industries (+0.2%) were the largest contributors to growth in December, driven by a strong increase in retail trade. Goods-producing industries rose 0.3%, partially offsetting November's decline. Utilities and mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction contributed the most to growth in the goods-producing aggregate after being among the largest detractors to growth in November.
Retail trade increased 2.6% in December, representing its largest monthly growth rate since June 2021 (+5.0%) when restrictions on in-person shopping due to the COVID-19 pandemic began to ease.
The transportation and warehousing sector edged up 0.1% in December. With lockout and strike activity ending at Canada's ports in November, both rail (+2.9%) and water (+3.0%) transportation rebounded in December.