Canada Capacity Utilization

Info

History

Chart

Impact:

Low

Source: Statistics Canada

Latest Release:

Date:

Surprise:

0.3%

Actual:

80.1%

Forecast: 79.8%

Previous/Revision:

79.7%

Period: Q1

Next Release:

Date:

Forecast: 80.5%

Period: Q2

What Does It Measure?

Capacity Utilization measures the extent to which a country's productive capacity is being used in relation to its maximum potential output. The primary focus includes assessing sectors like manufacturing, mining, and utilities, providing insights into production efficiency and economic health, with a key threshold of above 85% indicating potential overutilization and below 75% suggesting underutilization.

Frequency

This indicator is released on a quarterly basis, with figures reported as preliminary estimates that can be subject to later revisions, typically made available within a month after the end of each quarter.

Why Do Traders Care?

Traders closely monitor Capacity Utilization as it provides critical insights into industry health and economic performance, influencing investment decisions in key markets such as currencies, equities, and bonds. Higher utilization rates are typically perceived as bullish for stock markets and the national currency, suggesting robust economic conditions, while lower rates can indicate economic slack and potential bearish trends.

What Is It Derived From?

Capacity Utilization is derived from data collected through national surveys that measure industrial production output and potential capacity across various sectors. The calculations involve industry-specific estimates and historical production data to determine the ratio of actual output to maximum potential output.

Description

Capacity Utilization offers a snapshot of the production efficiency within the Canadian economy, reflecting the relationship between what is being produced and what could be produced if all resources were fully utilized. It is considered a coincident indicator of economic performance, often correlating with economic cycles and reacting to fluctuations in demand for goods and services.

Additional Notes

This indicator is essential for understanding broader economic trends as it serves as a barometer for industrial capacity and inflationary pressures. Capacity Utilization can also be compared to output levels of other major economies, providing insights into Canada’s relative economic standing in the global market.

Bullish or Bearish for Currency and Stocks

Higher than expected: Bullish for CAD, Bullish for Stocks. Lower than expected: Bearish for CAD, Bearish for Stocks.

Legend

High Potential Impact
This event has a strong potential to move markets significantly. If the 'Actual' value differs enough from the forecast or if the 'Previous' value is significantly revised, it signals new information that markets may rapidly adjust to.

Medium Potential Impact
This event may cause moderate market movement, especially if the 'Actual' deviates from the forecast or there's a notable revision to the 'Previous' value.

Low Potential Impact
This event is unlikely to affect market pricing unless there's an unexpected surprise or a major revision to prior data.

Surprise - Currency May Strengthen
Actual deviated from Forecast on a medium or high impact event and historically could strengthen the currency.

Surprise - Currency May Weaken
Actual deviated from Forcast on a medium or high impact event and historically could weaken the currency.

Big Surprise - Currency More Likely To Strengthen
'Actual' deviated from 'Forecast' more than 75% of historical deviations on a medium or high impact event and may likely strengthen the currency.

Big Surprise - Currency More Likely To Weaken
'Actual' deviated from 'Forecast' more than 75% of historical deviations on a medium or high impact event and may likely weaken the currency

Green Number	Better than forecast for the currency (or previous revise better)
Red Number	Worse than forecast for the currency (or previous revise better)
Hawkish	Supports higher interest rates to fight inflation, strengthening the currency but weighing on stocks.
Dovish	Favors lower rates to boost growth, weakening the currency but lifting stocks.

Date	Actual	Forecast	Previous	Surprise
Jun 13, 2025	80.1%	79.8%	79.7%	0.3%
Mar 07, 2025	79.8%	79.3%	79.4%	0.5%
Dec 13, 2024	79.3%	78.9%	79.1%	0.4%
Sep 13, 2024	79.1%	78.4%	78.6%	0.7%
Jun 07, 2024	78.5%	78.8%	78.6%	-0.3%
Mar 08, 2024	78.7%	80.2%	78.8%	-1.5%
Dec 08, 2023	79.7%	81%	79.6%	-1.3%
Sep 08, 2023	81.4%	82.3%	81.8%	-0.9%
Jun 09, 2023	81.9%	82.2%	81.8%	-0.3%
Mar 10, 2023	81.7%	82.3%	82.2%	-0.6%
Dec 09, 2022	82.6%	82.2%	82.8%	0.4%
Sep 09, 2022	83.8%	82.1%	81.9%	1.7%
Jun 10, 2022	82%	82.3%	82%	-0.3%
Mar 11, 2022	82.9%	82.2%	81.7%	0.7%
Dec 10, 2021	81.4%	83%	82%	-1.6%
Sep 10, 2021	82%	81.2%	81.4%	0.8%
Jun 11, 2021	81.7%	80.6%	79.7%	1.1%
Mar 12, 2021	79.2%	78%	77.4%	1.2%
Dec 11, 2020	76.5%	77.5%	70.7%	-1%
Sep 11, 2020	70.3%	70.2%	79.8%	0.1%
Jun 12, 2020	79.8%	80%	81.4%	-0.2%
Mar 11, 2020	81.2%	80.7%	81.5%	0.5%
Dec 11, 2019	81.7%	82.1%	83.3%	-0.4%
Sep 11, 2019	83.3%	81.8%	81.1%	1.5%
Jun 07, 2019	80.9%	81%	81.8%	-0.1%
Mar 08, 2019	81.7%	81.9%	82.8%	-0.2%
Dec 12, 2018	82.6%	85.7%	84.1%	-3.1%
Sep 12, 2018	85.5%	86.9%	83.7%	-1.4%
Jun 08, 2018	86.1%	86.3%	85.6%	-0.2%
Mar 09, 2018	86%	85.2%	85.1%	0.8%
Dec 08, 2017	85%	85%	85%
Sep 08, 2017	85%	85%	83.3%
Jun 09, 2017	83.3%	82.4%	81.8%	0.9%
Mar 09, 2017	82.2%	83%	81.6%	-0.8%
Dec 08, 2016	81.9%	80.8%	79.7%	1.1%
Sep 08, 2016	80%	81.5%	81.4%	-1.5%
Jun 09, 2016	81.4%	81.3%	80.9%	0.1%
Mar 10, 2016	81.1%	81.6%	81.6%	-0.5%
Dec 10, 2015	82%	81.9%	81.4%	0.1%
Sep 10, 2015	81.3%	81.7%	82.6%	-0.4%
Jun 11, 2015	82.7%	83%	83.5%	-0.3%