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Statistics Canada: Manufacturing Sales Decline in August
October 2008 |

Predictably, manufacturers witnessed a notable softening in sales in August following four consecutive monthly increases according to the latest Monthly Survey of Manufacturing for August from Statistics Canada.

Sales decreased 3.7 per cent to $52.0 billion, erasing most of the gains from the previous two months. However, the largest contributor to the decrease wasn't metal products manufacturing, but the petroleum and coal products industry, where sales have fallen by nearly $1 billion dollars in two months.

Overall the decrease in manufacturing sales was widespread in August with 18 of the 21 manufacturing industries accounting for 96 per cent of total sales.

Primary metal manufacturers reported a sizeable 7.9 per cent decrease in sales for August, the first decline in 10 months. After several months of strengthening sales, the transportation equipment industry fell 4.3 per cent in August, while sales by motor vehicle manufacturers decreased 4.3 per cent, the first drop since March 2008. Aerospace product and parts manufacturing also decreased in August, with production falling 2.9 per cent for a third consecutive monthly decline.

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