Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales rose 0.5 per cent to $60.3 billion in August, helped by gains in the petroleum and coal sector and higher chemical sales.
The overall increase followed a decline of 1.2 per cent in July.
The increase came as petroleum and coal product sales climbed 7.3 per cent to $6.6 billion in August to reach their highest level since May 2019.
Get daily National news
Chemical sales rose 6.3 per cent to a record high of $5.4 billion.
- Government spending questioned as SRO still open while businesses are closing
- Calgary Chamber says trade negotiations ‘a tipping point’ in relationship with U.S.
- Bellingham, Wash. businesses say continued decline in Canadian visitors damaging
- Trump’s new tariffs will be ‘a crack in the CUSMA shield,’ industry groups warn
Meanwhile, the ongoing shortage of semiconductor chips hurt the motor vehicle sector which saw sales fall 8.7 per cent to $3.0 billion in August and wood product sales dropped 17.1 per cent to $3.3 billion mostly due to lower softwood lumber prices.
Overall manufacturing sales in constant dollar terms rose 0.6 per cent in August, indicating a higher sales volume.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.