Statistics Canada to delay publishing September trade data as US government shutdown continues

Statistics Canada says it will be delayed in publishing international trade data for September due to the government shutdown in the United States.

The agency says it relies on U.S. Census Bureau data to track Canadian export volumes, but has not received any information since the U.S. government shutdown due to a funding impasse in Congress in early October.

As a result, Statistics Canada says it will not be able to publish Canadian export and import data for the month of September as planned for November 4.

The agency says it won’t be able to report monthly international trade results until the government shutdown ends, but the statistics bureau may have to consider other options if the disruption is prolonged.

Other key statistics such as quarterly GDP by expenditure and balance of international payments depend on inputs from monthly trade statistics.

Statistics Canada says it will produce special estimates of Canadian exports to the United States if the shutdown is not resolved in time to publish third-quarter GDP data in late November, but the agency cautions that these estimates will be subject to larger revisions than usual.