Statistics Canada released its capacity utilisation rate on Thursday. Canadian capacity utilisation rate rose to 81.4% in the first quarter from 80.9% in the fourth quarter, exceeding expectations for an increase to 81.3%. The fourth quarter's figure was revised down from 81.1%.

The increase was mainly driven by a rise in the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction industries. The capacity utilisation rate in the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction industry climbed to 77.0% in the first quarter from 75.9% in the fourth quarter.