Posted May 14, 2010
Manufacturing gains in Canada
Canadian manufacturing sales advanced 1.2% to $44.5 billion in March according to Statistics Canada.
Food and motor vehicle manufacturers were the largest contributors to the gains. Manufacturing sales have been trending upward since the low point reached in May 2009.
Constant dollar manufacturing sales increased 1.7% in March. Constant dollar sales have increased for seven consecutive months.
Sales gains were reported in 12 of 21 industries, representing two-thirds of total sales.
Besides food manufacturing, most of the remaining sales increases for March were attributable to the durable goods industries. Motor vehicle manufacturers reported a 3.6% increase in March, the sixth advance in seven months. However, the gain in motor vehicle manufacturing was largely offset by a 9.6% decrease in aerospace products and parts production.
Other durable good sales increases included non-metallic mineral products (+7.7%) and wood product manufacturing (+4.9%). Non-metallic mineral sales, in particular cement and concrete manufacturers, benefited from warm weather in March. Wood product sales have grown steadily over the past six months.
