Canada: Factory Activity Stagnates in March.

The S&P Global Canada Manufacturing PMI fell to 50.0 in March 2026 from 51.0 in the previous month signalling a stagnation of manufacturing sector performance and ending a two-month period of improvement. Output declined for the first time in 2026 as new order volumes returned to contraction with high prices and ongoing headwinds from US tariffs continuing to weigh on export sales. Consequently subdued trends in orders led to a marginal net fall in staffing levels for the first time in three months as firms adjusted operational capacity and showed a reluctance to replace leavers. Meanwhile input price inflation accelerated to its highest level since last August driven by rising fuel and supplier charges from the war in the Middle East though output charge inflation softened to a three-month low. Looking forward uncertainty caused by the conflict and persistent tariff concerns saw confidence in future output fall to a three-month low.