Real gross domestic product dipped in October for the first time since February. Wholesale trade dipped one per cent and retail trade dropped 1.1 per cent, its largest decline since March 2016. (The Logic)

Talking point: The trade dip was partially caused by the summer closures of several auto manufacturing plants, as well as the September strike by GM workers in the U.S. The strike also affected retail, with motor vehicle and parts dealers down two per cent. Retail’s difficulties were broad-based, however, with 10 of 12 subsectors dipping. Farm products were a rare bright point, jumping 6.7 per cent, though that may not carry through to November’s numbers, which will include a CN Rail strike that limited some farmers’ ability to get their products to market. The professional, scientific and technical sector continued its stream of increases since February 2018, led by computer systems, which saw a 0.9 per cent jump.