Manufacturing sales fall for third consecutive month: Statistics Canada

Manufacturing sales fell 1.5 percent in June to $45.3 billion, the lowest level since November 2010. Statistics Canada’s Monthly Survey of Manufacturing for June 2011 reports that sales dropped by $713 million, the third consecutive month of declines after growing steadily since May 2009.

Lower sales were reported in 15 of 21 industries, representing 77.5 percent of total manufacturing. Sales of durable goods declined 1.9 percent in June, while sales of non-durable goods were 1.2 percent lower. In particular, sales were down in the petroleum and coal product (down 6.6 percent), miscellaneous manufacturing (down 16.1 percent) and machinery industries (down 4.2 percent).

On the upside, sales in the chemical industry rose 5.8 percent, reflecting gains in the pesticide, fertilizer and other agricultural chemical industry.

Manufacturing sales were down in six provinces in June, with Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador reporting the largest sales decreases. In Ontario, sales fell two percent, while sales in Quebec declined 1.6 percent. Meanwhile, sales in Newfoundland and Labrador plummeted 26.9 percent in June, as a result of declines in non-durable goods.

Manitoba posted the largest sales growth in June, up 3.9 percent. The increase was driven by advances in the chemical, primary metal and machinery industries.

www.statcan.gc.ca