Manufacturing sales advancing slowly: Statistics Canada
February 22, 2011
By Manufacturing AUTOMATION
Manufacturing sales advanced 0.4 percent to $45.4 billion in December, according to Statistics Canada’s Monthly Survey of Manufacturing for December 2010. Gains in the primary metal and petroleum and coal product industries were offset by a decline in the aerospace products and parts industry. Manufacturing sales have been moving upwards at a slower rate in recent months, after increasing substantially between May 2009 and May 2010.
Constant dollar manufacturing sales declined 0.5 percent in December, reflecting price increases reported during the month. Constant dollar sales have been relatively stable over the past seven months.
Higher sales were reported in 13 of 21 industries, representing two-thirds of total manufacturing.
Sales advanced 3.9 percent in the primary metal industry. The increase reflected a rise in prices and higher production at some plants following slowdowns.
In the petroleum and coal products industry, sales advanced 1.5 percent thanks to price increases.
A 2.3 percent gain in the chemical products industry largely reflected higher sales of basic chemicals.
Sales in the food industry increased 0.9 percent. The rise was largely attributable to higher sales reported by manufacturers in the grain and oilseed milling industry.
The aerospace products and parts industry led the declines. Production in the industry fell 16.6 percent, the largest decrease in percentage terms since September 2009.
Sales decreases also occurred in the machinery industry (down two percent) and the computer and electronic product industry (down three percent).
Manufacturing sales are up in six provinces. New Brunswick led the provinces, with sales rising 28.7 percent to $1.6 billion, largely reflecting gains in the non-durable goods industries.
Sales advanced 3.3 percent in Alberta to $5.4 billion. Food (up 9.8 percent), petroleum and coal products (up 4.4 percent), and paper (up 15.4 percent) were largely responsible for the gain.
A 3.9 percent rise in Newfoundland and Labrador’s sales reflected gains in the non-durable goods industries.
Quebec led the provincial declines in December, with sales falling 2.8 percent to $10.9 billion. Decreases were largely concentrated in the aerospace products and parts industry (down 21.3 percent) and the petroleum and coal products industry (down 8.7 percent).
Sales declined 0.4 percent in Ontario to $20.7 billion. Decreases in the petroleum and coal products (down 6.8 percent), and food (down 1.9 percent) industries were partly offset by gains in the primary metal (up 3.9 percent) and chemical product (up 2.1 percent) industries.
In Nova Scotia, sales declined 2.7 percent to $877 million, largely as a result of lower sales in the non-durable goods industries.
