Canadian economy slipped in February

OTTAWA, April 30 (UPI) -- Wholesale trade and manufacturing led Canada's economy to slow by 0.2 percent overall in February, Statistics Canada reported Wednesday.

The agency said wholesaling dipped 1.4 percent, while manufacturing declined 0.7 percent. Within wholesaling, those most affected were wholesalers of motor vehicles and of building supplies.

The report said petroleum production was off by 5.1 percent during the month because some western refineries underwent unscheduled maintenance shutdowns.

Other declines were recorded in retail trade, down 0.6 percent, as well as in the transportation and financial sectors, StatsCan said.

Advances were seen in the tourism, government-related industries and in construction, but were not enough to offset the overall decline, the report said.

Overall, StatsCan said economic activity in the beginning of 2008 was much slower than a year earlier.