Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales fell 3.0 per cent to $58.5 billion in September as motor vehicle sales fell due to the ongoing shortage of semiconductor shortage that has hurt auto production.
The agency says sales of motor vehicles fell 35.6 per cent to $1.9 billion, the lowest level since May 2020, while sales of motor vehicle parts dropped 13.5 per cent to $1.8 billion.
Meanwhile, higher prices helped petroleum product sales rise 3.0 per cent to $6.7 billion in September.
Total manufacturing sales in constant dollars fell 4.2 per cent in September, indicating a lower volume of goods sold.
In a separate report, Statistics Canada said wholesale sales rose 1.0 per cent in September to $71.3 billion.
The increase came as the miscellaneous goods subsector rose 5.9 per cent due to a 20.9 per cent increase in sales in the agricultural products industry.