Canada's GDP up modestly in August

OTTAWA, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Canada's gross domestic product expanded 0.3 percent in August, half the rate of gain of July, Statistics Canada said Thursday.

The data agency said goods production rose 0.4 percent. Mining, oil and gas extraction rose 1.9 percent, including a 2.8 percent gain in oil and gas extraction.

In contrast, mining and quarrying that excluded gas and oil extraction dropped 1.1 percent in August, as a drop in potash and metallic mineral mining dropped enough to offset an increase in coal mining.

Wholesale trade rose 0.4 percent in the month, while retail rose 0.3 percent. Manufacturing slipped 0.3 percent after rising 0.9 percent in July. Construction in August was unchanged, StatsCan said.