Statistics Canada reported Friday that November manufacturing sales in the country increased 1.7 percent to $49.9 billion, the highest level since May 2012. Sales rose in 12 of 21 industries, representing about two-thirds of the manufacturing sector. Durable goods sales increased 2.7 percent to $25.5 billion while non-durable goods sales gained 0.8 percent to $24.4 billion.
The gain in the transportation equipment industry accounted for more than a third of the total increase in Canadian manufacturing sales. Sales in the industry were up 3.8 percent to $8.7 billion. The advance in transportation equipment partly reflected a 4.1 percent increase in the motor vehicle industry and a 6.5 percent rise in the aerospace product and parts industry. In the primary metal industry, sales rose 5.9 percent to $4 billion, the highest level since April 2012.
Inventories declined 0.8 percent to $65.5 billion in November, while unfilled orders advanced 3.6 percent to $64.1 billion in November, reaching the highest level since March 2009. The increase also reflected higher orders in the transportation equipment industry.