Statistics Canada reported Tuesday that manufacturing sales in the country were $48.7 billion in May, a 0.4 percent drop and the fourth decrease in the last five months. The drop was led by a 9.6 percent decline in the petroleum and coal industry--excluding petroleum and coal, total manufacturing sales actually increased 1.2 percent.
Despite four monthly declines in overall manufacturing sales in 2012, manufacturing employment has continued to increase. Employment rose 2 percent in May according to the Labor Force Survey.
Sales in the fabricated metal product segment rose 2.8 percent in May; motor vehicle industry sales increased 1.6 percent; machinery sales slumped 3.5 percent; and transportation equipment sales plunged 26.1 percent.