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Oct 5, 2026 6:35 PM - Connect Newsroom - Ramandeep Kaur

Canada’s Services Sector Contracts for Fourth Straight Month, Businesses Remain Optimistic About Future

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Canada’s services sector continued to contract in September, marking the fourth consecutive month of decline. According to the S&P Global Canada Services PMI, released Monday, the headline business activity index improved slightly to 48.3 in September, up from 46.8 in August, but remained below the key 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction.

Experts attributed the weakness to ongoing tariff disputes, U.S. restrictions on Canadian products and global uncertainty linked to tensions in the Middle East.

However, there was some positive news as Canadian companies remained optimistic about the future. The future activity index climbed to 61.4, its highest level in five months, raising hopes that business conditions could improve in the coming months.

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