Canadian manufacturing sales rose to $53B in September 2014

Nov. 14, 2014 – Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales rose 2.1 per cent to $53.0 billion in September — the eighth gain in nine months — rebounding from a sharp 3.5 per cent decline the previous month.

Most of the increase in September stemmed from higher sales in the transportation equipment industry, which advanced 9.5 per cent to reach $9.9 billion. Excluding transportation equipment, manufacturing sales rose 0.6 per cent.

Production in the aerospace product and parts industry climbed 22.0 per cent to $1.9 billion, while sales in the motor vehicle industry increased 4.8 per cent to $4.8 billion. The increase reflected some plants returning to normal production levels following partial shutdowns in August, noted Statistics Canada.

Sales were also up in the primary metal and food industries. In the primary metal industry, sales rose 5.9 per cent to $4.4 billion, the sixth consecutive monthly gain. Food sales increased 2.1 per cent to $8.1 billion.

Lower sales in the petroleum and coal products industry — a decline of 5.7 per cent — offset some of the gains.

Sales increased in eight provinces in September, led by Quebec (up 6.8 per cent to $12.9 billion) and Ontario (up 2.3 per cent to $24.5 billion). In Newfoundland and Labrador, sales were down 47.7 per cent to $315 million, while New Brunswick posted a decrease of 9.3 per cent to $1.5 billion. For both provinces, lower non-durable goods sales were responsible for the declines, noted Statistics Canada.

Constant dollar sales rose 2.3 per cent, indicating that a higher volume of products was sold, it added.

According to The Canadian Press, September’s growth was much stronger than the 1.1 per cent gain economists had estimated.

— With files from The Canadian Press