Manufacturing sales fall 2.6 per cent in July, Statistics Canada
September 19, 2017 | By The Canadian Press
Ottawa – Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales fell 2.6 per cent to $52.5 billion in July, due in large part to a drop in the auto sector.
The agency says sales fell in nine of 21 industries, representing 57 per cent of the manufacturing sector. Sales were down 1.4 per cent in July on a constant basis.
Sales of transportation equipment fell 13.8 per cent to $9.6 billion in July due a 19.9 per cent drop in motor vehicles and a 11.3 per cent move lower by motor vehicle parts.
Statistics Canada notes that the annual auto assembly plant summer shutdowns were longer and more concentrated in July than in previous years.
It adds that changes to vehicle models being manufactured in Canada also contributed to the decline.
Excluding motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts, manufacturing sales increased 0.2 per cent.
