Canadian industries operated at 86.1% of their production capacity in the first quarter, up from 85.6% in the previous quarter. This was the seventh consecutive quarterly gain and the longest sequence of increases since the third quarter of 2009 to the first quarter of 2011.

The increase in the first quarter of 2018 was mainly attributable to the construction sector and, to a lesser extent, the manufacturing sector.

The capacity utilization rate in the construction industry posted a seventh consecutive quarterly increase, rising from 90.8% in the fourth quarter to 92.4% in the first quarter. As in the previous quarter, the gain was due to a widespread increase in construction activity.