Canada's GDP up 0.4 percent in second quarter

OTTAWA, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Canada's gross domestic product expanded 0.4 percent in the second quarter, Statistics Canada said Friday.

Household consumption rose 0.9 percent with a 3.2 percent increase in spending on durable goods, items expected to last three years or more.

Spending on services rose 0.7 percent, StatsCan said.

Government spending climbed 0.6 percent for a fourth consecutive quarterly gain.

Investment in commercial structures dropped 0.6 percent while spending on intellectual property products shrank 2.3 percent.

Exports climbed at a slower pace than the first quarter with growth of 0.2 percent from 1.3 percent.

Imports were up 0.4 percent after a gain of 0.6 percent in the first quarter, StatsCan said.