Capacity Utilization Rates (CUR)

Summary of changes

Activity on this program started: first quarter 1962

Reference period of change - fourth quarter 2020

For this release on industrial capacity utilization rates, the data were revised back to the first quarter of 2020 to reflect the latest revisions to the source data. For manufacturing industries, the data are not seasonally adjusted.

Reference period of change - third quarter 2020

For this release on industrial capacity utilization rates, the data were revised back to the first quarter of 2016 to reflect the latest revisions to the source data. For manufacturing industries, the data are not seasonally adjusted.

Reference period of change - second quarter 2020

For this release on industrial capacity utilization rates, the data were revised back to the first quarter of 2019 to reflect the latest revisions to the source data. For manufacturing industries, the data are not seasonally adjusted.

Reference period of change - first quarter 2020

For this release on industrial capacity utilization rates, the data were revised back to the first quarter of 2019 to reflect the latest revisions to the source data. For manufacturing industries, the data are not seasonally adjusted.

Reference period of change - fourth quarter 2019

For this release on industrial capacity utilization rates, the data were revised back to the first quarter of 2019 to reflect the latest revisions to the source data. For manufacturing industries, the data are not seasonally adjusted.

Reference period of change - third quarter 2019

For this release on industrial capacity utilization rates, the data were revised back to the first quarter of 2015 to reflect the latest revisions to the source data. For manufacturing industries, the data are not seasonally adjusted.

Reference period of change - second quarter 2019

With this release of industrial capacity utilization rates, the data have been revised back to the first quarter of 2018 to reflect the latest revisions to the source data. For manufacturing industries, the data are not seasonally adjusted.

Reference period of change - first quarter 2019

With this release of the industrial capacity utilization rates, the data have been revised back to the first quarter of 2018 to reflect the latest revisions to the source data.

Reference period of change - fourth quarter 2018

With this release of the industrial capacity utilization rates, the data have been revised back to the first quarter of 2018 to reflect the latest revisions to the source data.

Reference period of change - third quarter 2018

With this release of the industrial capacity utilization rates, the data have been revised back to the first quarter of 2015 to reflect the latest revisions to the source data. In particular, for manufacturing industries, the estimates are from the Monthly Survey of Manufacturing beginning with the January 2017 reference month. The data are not seasonally adjusted. For non-manufacturing industries, the quarterly pattern is derived from the output-to-capital ratio series, the output being the real gross domestic product at basic prices, seasonally adjusted, by industry.

Reference period of change - second quarter 2018

With this release of the industrial capacity utilization rates, the data have been revised back to the first quarter of 2017 to reflect the latest revisions to the source data. In particular, for manufacturing industries, the agency has integrated the new monthly estimates from the Monthly Survey of Manufacturing beginning with the January 2017 reference month. The data are not seasonally adjusted. For non-manufacturing industries, the quarterly pattern is derived from the output-to-capital ratio series, the output being the real gross domestic product at basic prices, seasonally adjusted, by industry.

Industrial capacity utilization rates - Sources and methods (https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/13-604-m/13-604-m2018089-eng.htm) The industrial capacity utilization rate (ICUR) is the ratio of an industry's actual output to its estimated potential output—it represents the intensity with which industries use their production capacity. The rate provides insight into the overall slack in the economy or in a firm at a given point in time.

Reference period of change - first quarter 2018

With this release of industrial capacity utilization rates, the data have been revised back to the first quarter of 2017 to reflect the latest revisions to the source data.

Reference period of change - fourth quarter 2017

With this release of industrial capacity utilization rates, the data were revised back to the first quarter of 2017 to reflect the latest revisions to the source data.

Reference period of change - third quarter 2017

With this release of industrial capacity utilization rates, the data were revised back to the first quarter of 2014 to reflect the latest revisions to the source data.

Reference period of change - second quarter 2017

With this release of industrial capacity utilization rates, the data were revised back to the first quarter of 2016 to reflect the latest revisions to the source data.

Reference period of change - first quarter 2017

With this release of industrial capacity utilization rates, the data were revised back to the first quarter of 2016 to reflect the latest revisions to the source data.

Reference period of change - fourth quarter 2016

With this release of industrial capacity utilization rates, the data were revised back to the first quarter of 2015 to reflect the latest revisions to the source data. Specifically, data for capacity utilization rate of manufacturing industries collected from the Annual Survey of Manufacturing and Logging Industries were incorporated.

Reference period of change - third quarter 2016

With this release of industrial capacity utilization rates, the data were revised back to the first quarter of 2013 to reflect the latest revisions to the source data. Specifically, revised data for capital stock by industry and gross domestic product at basic prices were incorporated to take into account the latest revision of the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts.

Reference period of change - second quarter 2016

With this release of industrial capacity utilization rates, data were revised back to the first quarter of 2015 to reflect the latest revisions to source data.

Reference period of change - first quarter 2016

With this release of industrial capacity utilization rates, data were revised back to the first quarter of 2014 to reflect the latest revisions to source data. Specifically, data for capacity utilization rates of manufacturing industries collected from the Annual Survey of Manufacturing and Logging Industries were incorporated.

Reference period of change - fourth quarter 2015

With this release of industrial capacity utilization rates, the data were revised back to the first quarter of 1987 to reflect the latest revisions to the source data. Specifically, revised data for capital stock by industry and gross domestic product at basic prices were incorporated to take into account the comprehensive revision in 2015 of the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts.

As well, the methodology used to estimate the industrial capacity utilization rate for the electric power generation, transmission and distribution industry was modified to make it consistent with the methodology used for other non-manufacturing industries. The capacity production for this industry will now be estimated using the Hodrick-Prescott filter.

Reference period of change - third quarter 2015

With this release on industrial capacity utilization rates, data were revised back to the first quarter of 2014 to reflect updated source data.

Reference period of change - second quarter 2015

With this release on industrial capacity utilization rates, data were revised back to the first quarter of 2014 to reflect updated source data.

Reference period of change - first quarter 2015

With this release on industrial capacity utilization rates, data were revised back to the first quarter of 2014 to reflect updated source data.

Reference period of change - fourth quarter 2014

With this release on industrial capacity utilization rates, data were revised back to the first quarter of 2014 to reflect updated source data.

Reference period of change - third quarter 2014

With this release on industrial capacity utilization rates, data were revised back to the first quarter of 2013 to reflect updated source data.

Reference period of change - second quarter 2014

With this release on industrial capacity utilization rates, data were revised back to the first quarter of 2013 to reflect updated source data.

Reference period of change - first quarter 2014

With this release on industrial capacity utilization rates, data were revised back to the first quarter of 2013 to reflect updated source data.

Reference period of change - fourth quarter 2013

With this release on industrial capacity utilization rates, data were revised back to the first quarter of 2013 to reflect updated source data.

Reference period of change - third quarter 2013

At the time of this release, data were revised back to the first quarter of 2007 to reflect updated source data.

Reference period of change - second quarter 2013

At the time of this release, rates have been revised back to the first quarter of 2010 to reflect updated source data

Reference period of change - first quarter 2013

At the time of this release, rates have been revised back to the first quarter of 2012 to reflect updated source data.

Reference period of change - fourth quarter 2012

At the time of this release, rates have been revised back to the first quarter of 2011 to reflect updated source data. In particular, the annual benchmarks for manufacturing industries for 2011 and 2012 have been revised to incorporate the results of the Capital and Repair Expenditures Survey.

Reference period of change - third quarter 2012

At the time of this release, rates have been revised back to the first quarter of 2009 to reflect updated source data.

Reference period of change - first quarter 2012

At the time of this release, rates have been revised back to the first quarter of 2010 to reflect updated source data.

Reference period of change - first quarter 2005

The conventional definition of capital for the oil and gas industry includes geological and geophysical expenditures as well as exploration drilling expenditures, i.e. outlays for assets that do not necessarily immediately add to the industry's productive capacity (potential output).

In order to better reflect capacity use, we have now excluded these expenditures from the industry's capital stock measures, and delayed the inclusion of offshore development drilling expenditures by an average of two years in order to capture the new production capacity closer to when new production actually occurs.

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