Manufacturing sales dipped in August: StatsCan
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Economy Statistics CanadaThe drop was led by oil, coal, auto and aerospace, the agency said.
Manufacturing sales fell 0.2 per cent to $52.1 billion in August following three consecutive monthly increases, according to new figures from Statistics Canada.
The decrease was due to a drop in the petroleum and coal industry, StatsCan said, as well as the auto parts and aerospace product and parts industries.
“Motor vehicle parts sales declined 4.4% to $2.5 billion,” the agency said. “Normally, parts manufacturers report large gains in August as motor vehicle assembly plants ramp up production following regular shutdowns every July. This year, the sales gains reported by parts manufacturers were smaller than usual, leading to the decrease in seasonally adjusted sales for the industry.”
Production in the aerospace product and parts industry was down 3.5% to $1.9 billion in August, StatsCan said. Despite the decline in August, year-to-date aerospace production was up 12.1% in 2015 compared with the same period last year.
And in the motor vehicle assembly industry, sales rose 6.7% to $5.7 billion following maintenance shutdowns in July. “Some manufacturers reported selling more higher-end vehicles in August,” StatsCan said.
Overall, sales were down were down in eight of 21 main industries tracked, representing approximately half of the sector.
Sales declined in five provinces in August including lower results in Quebec, Alberta and New Brunswick, offset in large part by gains in Ontario.