Canada’s index of leading economic indicators unexpectedly fell in September, the first decline since April 2009, led by housing and manufacturing.
The index dropped 0.1 percent after a revised gain of 0.6 percent in August, Ottawa-based Statistics Canada said today. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg News said the index would rise 0.2 percent, based on the median of eight estimates. The index’s average monthly increase over the past decade is 0.3 percent.
New orders for durable-goods manufacturers fell 1.9 percent from the previous month, and the average factory workweek fell by 0.3 percent to 36.6 hours. Statistics Canada’s measure of housing starts and existing home sales fell 3.2 percent.
