The Canadian economy is on track to bounce back sharply in the final quarter of 2023, but record-high population growth due to strong immigration is likely masking some weakness. Preliminary data suggest gross domestic product grew 0.3% in December, led higher by manufacturing, real estate and the oil and gas sectors, Statistics Canada reported Wednesday in Ottawa. That followed a 0.2% expansion in the previous month, double the expectations of a Bloomberg survey of economists. Overall, the industry-based numbers point to an increase of 1.2% annualized in the final three months of 2023, following a 1.1% contraction ... (full story)