Statistics Canada says it will delay the release of 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 of that 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 release Canadian export and import data for September as planned on November 4.
The agency says it will not be able to report monthly international trade results until the government shutdown ends, but the statistics bureau may have to consider other options if disruptions persist for a long period of time.
Other key indicators, such as quarterly gross domestic product by expenditure and international balance of payments, are based on monthly trade figures.
Statistics Canada says it will compile special estimates of Canadian exports to the United States if the lockdown is not resolved in time to release third-quarter GDP data in late November, but the agency warns those forecasts will be subject to larger revisions than usual.
