Canada’s current account gap widens in second quarter
By: Reuters | Aug 29 2013 at 12:19 PM | International Trade
The deficit increased to C$14.6 billion ($13.9 billion) in the quarter, matching the average forecast of analysts in a Reuters poll.
The gap had narrowed in the previous two quarters and had stood at C$13.4 billion at the end of March, revised from C$14.1 billion previously.
The deficit on trade in goods expanded to C$3.1 billion in the April-June period. Imports outpaced exports, advancing C$1.4 billion on higher volumes of vehicles and electronic andelectrical equipment.
Exports grew by a milder C$200 million as a drop in crude oil exports to the United States offset gains in other sectors. The surplus with the country's top trade partner fell during the quarter to C$10.2 billion from C$10.9 billion in the first quarter.
Canada's deficit on trade in services also widened slightly to C$6.2 billion, and the investment income deficit grew to C$4.2 billion.
The export sector, a key driver of theeconomy, has been hit by weakmarketsand, until recently, a strong Canadian dollar. Statscan's merchandise trade figures, reported earlier this month, showed the cumulative trade deficit for the first half of the year was the second highest on record. (Reuters)