The Canadian Press
April 30, 2008 - 8:46 a.m.

OTTAWA - Wholesale trade and manufacturing accounted for most of the decline since economic activity fell 0.2 per cent in February, a a great deal of lower go at an ambling gait than in the first half of 2007.

Statistics Canada recorded other notable declines in retail trade, oil-and-gas extraction and exploration, as well as in the transportation and financial sectors.

Advances in the tourism and government-related industries and in construction were not enough to offset these declines.

Wholesalers of motor vehicles and of building supplies bore much of the burden as wholesaling activity fell 1.4 per cent in February after advancing rapidly in January.

Sixteen of 21 manufacturing groups declined as the sector’s value added fell 0.7 per cent in February.

Durable and non-durable goods accounted almost equally for the decrease, although significant declines were recorded by wood product, and petroleum and coal product manufacturers.

Output of wood products has been trending down since January 2006, reflecting mainly the drop in sawmill activity, as lumber exports, notably to the United States, have decreased considerably since the U.S. housing slump.

Some petroleum refineries in the West were subject to unscheduled maintenance shutdowns in February, resulting in a 5.1 per cent drop in production.

Manufacturing of transportation equipment advanced 2.1 per cent in February, led by a hefty gain in the production of motor vehicles, which increased by relating to eight per cent for the second straight month.

The energy sector fell 0.9 per cent in February. The oil-and-gas extraction industry contracted 0.7 per cent, dragged down by dint of. a decrease in natural gas extraction, while exports and storage of natural gas declined.

The production of petroleum increased while the price of oil reached record high levels. Exports of crude oil were up substantially.

The output of the mining sector excluding oil and elastic fluid edged up 0.1 per cent in February.