The Canadian Press

Real gross domestic product decreased 0.1% in August, largely due to slides in oil-and-gas extraction and manufacturing.

Statistics Canada reports wholesale trade, agriculture and forestry also retreated, while the public sector, utilities, retail trade and construction were up.

Oil-and-gas extraction fell 2.3% in August, as maintenance work at some crude petroleum facilities on the East Coast slowed production.

Natural gas production also retreated.

The output of the mining sector excluding oil and gas extraction declined 1.4% in August.

The output of utilities increased 1.8%, as natural-gas distribution and the production of electricity increased.

Manufacturing activity decreased 0.7%, with eight of the 21 major groups retreating.

The volume of wholesaling activity declined 0.5% in August, reflecting weakness in foreign and domestic demand.

Activity in the public sector — including education, health and public administration — increased 0.4%, largely because a strike by municipal employees in Toronto ended.

Value added in retail trade increased 0.3% in August.

Construction advanced 0.2% in August, its first increase since October 2008.

The level of activity of real estate agents and brokers remained high for a third straight month, following five months of strong growth.