According to Statistics Canada, manufacturing sales rose 2.9 percent to $51.0 billion in March, the second increase in six months. An increase in the production of aerospace products and parts coupled with gains in the motor vehicle industry generated higher sales for the month. Partially offsetting the advance was a drop in sales of fabricated metal products. The increase in March followed a 2.2 percent decrease in February, which was revised to reflect updated information provided by respondents.
Sales in the motor vehicle industry grew 12.8 percent in March, after declining 18.9 percent in the previous two months. The declines in the first two months of 2015 reflected shutdowns for retooling at various plants in Ontario. The growth in March reflected higher production as this work started to wind down.
Meanwhile, inventories held by manufacturers fell 0.4 percent in March, the second decline in six months. The lower inventories reflected decreases in the chemical, fabricated metal product and aerospace product and parts industries.