Manufacturing sales up in September: StatsCan

Manufacturing sales rose 0.6 per cent to $49.9 billion in September, the fourth increase in five months. According to Statistics Canada’s Monthly Survey of Manufacturing, the gain in September was largely a result of higher sales in the motor vehicle assembly and food industries. Total sales in September were at their highest level since June 2012.

Sales rose in 11 of 21 industries, representing about 55 per cent of Canadian manufacturing. Both the durable and the non-durable goods industries posted 0.6 per cent sales gains.

Constant dollar sales increased one per cent in September, indicating a rise in volumes.

In the motor vehicle assembly industry, sales were up 5.4 per cent to $4.7 billion in September. Meanwhile, sales in the motor vehicle parts industry rose 2.5 per cent to $2 billion.

Food sales rose 2.6 per cent to $7.5 billion in September, the largest increase since December 2012.

In September, lower sales in the primary metal, aerospace product and parts, petroleum and coal product, fabricated metal product, as well as the computer and electronic product industries, offset a portion of the gains.

In Ontario, sales increased 1.4 per cent to $22.9 billion. The rise was largely a result of higher sales in the motor vehicle assembly, the motor vehicle parts, as well as the chemical industries. A 5.2 per cent decline in the petroleum and coal product industry partly offset these gains.

Sales in New Brunswick were up 16.8 per cent to $1.7 billion, the largest monthly gain in the province since March 2012. The increase reflected higher sales of non-durable goods.

Saskatchewan’s manufacturing sector posted a sales gain of nine per cent in September. The total sales level of $1.3 billion for the province was the highest ever recorded. The gain was mostly attributable to higher sales of non-durable goods.

In Alberta, sales fell 3.6 per cent to $6.3 billion. Decreases in the petroleum and coal product, as well as chemical industries, were largely responsible for the provincial decline.

In Quebec, sales were down one per cent to $11.5 billion, giving back some of the 3.8 per cent increase recorded in August. Lower sales were posted by 13 of 21 industries in the province.

www.statcan.gc.ca