Strong consumer spending and the first upturn in manufacturing so far this year drove Canada’s leading indicator in September, Statistics Canada reported today.

The composite leading index rose 0.4% last month, after an upward-revised gain of 0.3% in August.

The housing and stock markets, which explained the indicator’s strength earlier this year, became the weakest components in September, Statscan said.

Consumer spending and manufacturing took the lead instead. Canadians bought more cars over the summer and also spent more on other durable goods. Job growth in the services sector was led by “personal services,” replacing “business services,” which had fueled growth in prior months.

Manufacturers, staggering from shrinking export returns due to the strong Canadian dollar, had more orders and hired more workers in September as the rate of decline in shipments slowed.