Canadian manufacturing sales rise 1.5 per cent in August

Manufacturing sales in August

79.9 $ billion

Total manufacturing sales rose 1.5 per cent to $79.9 billion in August, Statistics Canada said.

By subsector, August

• Primary metals: +14.0%, to $7.6 billion
• Chemicals: +4.4%, to $6.2 billion
• Transportation equipment: -2.6%, to $12.0 billion

Primary metals led the gain, up 14.0 per cent to a record $7.6 billion on higher volumes and prices, while transportation equipment fell.

Behind the number

Measured in constant dollars, total manufacturing sales were unchanged in August.

Wholesale sales went the other way, falling 1.6 per cent to $91.6 billion in August, excluding petroleum, oilseed and grain, Statistics Canada said in a separate report.