Manufacturing sector declines in March

Ottawa, Ont. – The manufacturing sector in Canada dropped more than expected in March, with shipments falling by 1.6 per cent to $49 billion, according to Statistics Canada.

The StatsCan report blames the countryís slumping auto sector for the
weaker-than-expected results. Analysts had been forecasting a 0.4 per
cent dip in sales prior to the reportís release.
StatsCan said the slowdown was extensive, as 18 of the 21 manufacturing
industries, representing 76 per cent of total sales, posted declines.
The decline was the first in 2008, as manufacturers had recovered
slightly from a big dip in December 2007.
Manufacturing shipments produced in Ontario fell by 2.9 per cent and by
1.4 per cent in Alberta. Quebec’s manufacturing sales, on the other
hand, rose 0.3 per cent on the strength of the aerospace industry.