Manufacturing Sales Fall To Lowest Level In Past Decade

Ottawa, ON — Manufacturing sales decreased 5.4% to $41.7 billion in January 2009, falling to the lowest level in almost 10 years. Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts industries, particularly in Ontario, reported record decreases during the month. Excluding motor vehicles and related parts and accessories, manufacturing sales decreased a more moderate 1.2% compared with December.

Constant-dollar manufacturing sales, which are measured in 2002 prices, fell 6.4% to $38.1 billion in January. This was the sharpest decrease in constant-dollar sales since the current series started in 1997.

At the industry level, sales in 14 of 21 manufacturing industries decreased in January, accounting for about three-fifths of total sales.

However, in February, employment rose by 25,000 in manufacturing, with the largest gain in food products manufacturing. Transportation equipment manufacturing was little changed following declines the month before. Despite the overall increase in February, manufacturing employment is down 5.3% (-104,000) from 12 months earlier.