OTTAWA — The economy surged past expectations with across-the-board growth in the second quarter, giving the country its best start to a calendar year since 2002, Statistics Canada said Thursday. Exports, particularly in the form of energy products, also gave a lift to real GDP in the second quarter. Taken together, exports expanded in the second quarter at an annualized rate of 9.6 per cent, Jean said. The GDP report was enough for CIBC chief economist Avery Shenfeld to change his mind. Before the report, Desjardins was projecting 2.9 per cent growth for 2017.

Source: National Post August 31, 2017 12:35 UTC