Manufacturing sales fell by 1.2 per cent in November: StatsCan
Manufacturing sales dropped 1.2 per cent in November, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada.
Manufacturing sales dropped 1.2 per cent in November, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada.
Total sales fell to $70.8 billion, a decline primarily driven by the auto sector.
The agency reported motor vehicle sales dropped 15.9 per cent, while the motor vehicle parts group also declined 6.3 per cent.
Additionally, the machinery subsector fell 3.2 per cent.
“These declines were partially offset by a 6.8 per cent increase in sales of petroleum and coal products,” Statistics Canada writes. “On a year-over-year basis, total sales were down 1.1% in November.”
Sales decreased in eight provinces, led by Ontario and followed by British Columbia.
Total unfilled orders also edged up 0.1 per cent in November, bringing the total to $112.9 billion.
“Higher unfilled orders of computers and electronics (+4.3 per cent) and fabricated metals (+1.8 per cent) contributed the most to the increase,” it said. “Meanwhile, unfilled orders of aerospace products and parts declined the most (-0.3 per cent). Year over year, total unfilled orders rose 6.9 per cent in November.
Statistics Canada also separately reported a drop in wholesale sales, which fell 1.8 per cent in November to $84.4 billion, marking the second-largest decline in the past two years.
Wholesale sales declined in four provinces, with Ontario and Quebec posting the largest decreases. A slight increase in B.C. helped to offset the overall drop.
“Sales fell in four of seven subsectors, representing 44.5 per cent of the wholesale trade sector (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain),” it said.
Excluding those products, wholesale sales fell 2.3 per cent.