Real gross domestic product edged down 0.1% in February, Statistics Canada said.

Canadian economic activity has declined by 2.4% since October 2008.

A rise in motor vehicle and associated parts manufacturing in February was not enough to outweigh declines in construction and in mining activities (excluding oil and gas), StatsCan said.

The output of the manufacturing sector edged up 0.1% in February as production of motor vehicles and associated rose 19%. Excluding motor vehicle and parts production, the manufacturing sector dropped 0.8%.

Construction activity fell 2.1% in February, the fourth consecutive month of declines.

The output of the energy sector remained unchanged in February, with very mixed results among the components, StatsCan said.

The output of the mining sector, excluding oil and gas extraction, dropped 6.4%, as the output of both metal ore and non-metal mines fell.

The volume of activities in wholesaling industries slipped 0.2% in February, while value added in retail trade edged down 0.1%.

Conversely, oil and gas extraction and some tourism-related industries advanced.

The finance and insurance sector was unchanged in February. Mutual fund sales, along with banking activities related to residential mortgages and short-term business loans, declined. Stock brokerage activities posted a modest gain, on the strength of a higher volume of trading in the securities markets.

Industrial product and raw materials price indices

Separately, StatsCan said the Industrial Product Price Index rose 0.3% in March compared with February, due to the depreciation of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar and higher prices for primary metals.

The Raw Materials Price Index advanced 12.1% compared with February, pushed up by a strong increase in crude oil prices, StatsCan said.

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