加拿大的經濟增長快於預期

Canada's economy grew at a faster pace than expected in the first quarter of 2010, led by consumer spending, Statistics Canada reported Monday.Gross domestic product rose at an annualized pace of 6.1 per cent between January and March, the biggest jump since the last quarter of 1999. Growth in the fourth quarter of last year was 4.9 per cent.

Most economists had expected GDP growth of 5.8 per cent in the first three months of 2010."Residential investment increased for a fourth consecutive quarter, as did consumer spending on goods and services," Statistics Canada said. "Export and import volumes both rose for a third consecutive quarter, with growth in imports outpacing growth in exports in the first quarter."This marks the third straight quarter of economic growth in Canada, following three consecutive quarters of contraction.

Meanwhile, Statistics Canada separately reported that March economic growth was 0.6 per cent, after a 0.3 per cent advance in the previous month.Monday's GDP numbers come one day before the Bank of Canada meets to decide whether to begin increasing interest rates.

Many economists expect the central bank on Tuesday will raise rates for the first time since lowering them to a record-low 0.25 per cent in April 2009 in an effort to fight off the worldwide recession. The consensus is for a 25-basis-point rise to 0.50 per cent.Statistics Canada consumer spending on goods and services rose 1.1 per cent in the first quarter, compared to a one per cent gain in the previous quarter."Household spending on semi-durable goods advanced, particularly for clothing, footwear, and accessories," the report said. "Expenditure on new motor vehicles grew, but at a much slower pace than in the previous three quarters."


Financial Post