According to Statistics Canada, manufacturing sales declined 0.8 percent to $51.0 billion in October, following two consecutive monthly gains. The largest decreases were in the primary metal, petroleum and coal product, and machinery industries.
Sales fell in 15 of 21 industries, representing 61 percent of the manufacturing sector. Sales of durable goods decreased 1.1 percent, while non-durable goods sales were down 0.4 percent.
Inventory levels edged down 0.1 percent in October to $70.2 billion. Inventories were down in 12 of 21 industries, led by the aerospace product and parts (-4.2 percent) and wood product (-3.4 percent) industries. A 7.6 percent increase in petroleum and coal product inventories partly offset the declines. Meanwhile, the inventory-to-sales ratio rose from 1.37 in September to 1.38 in October.
Unfilled orders rose 0.8 percent to $89.4 billion in October, following three months of declines. The increase was attributable to higher unfilled orders in the transportation equipment, computer and electronic product, and primary metal industries.
Unfilled orders rose 0.8 percent to $89.4 billion in October, following three months of declines. The increase was attributable to higher unfilled orders in the transportation equipment, computer and electronic product, and primary metal industries.
New orders rose for the second consecutive month, up 0.7 percent to $51.7 billion in October as a result of gains in the aerospace product and parts and computer and electronic industries. The increase was partially offset by lower new orders in machinery and food industries.