After increasing for four consecutive months, real gross domestic product was down 0.3% in October. Widespread decreases in manufacturing output and lower oil and gas extraction were the major contributors to the decline. Goods-producing industries contracted 1.3% as manufacturing, mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, construction, utilities and the agriculture and forestry sector all declined in October. Service-producing industries edged up 0.1%, mainly due to increases in real estate and rental and leasing as well as retail and wholesale trade. The public sector (education, health and public ... (full story)