Statistics Canada reported Tuesday that Canadian factory sales fell 0.6 percent to C$45.1 billion (US$44.4 billion) in September, the third decline in the last four months. The decline was led primarily by decreased automobile and lumber demand.
Sales fell in 13 out of the 21 categories Statistics Canada tracks, including a 10.4 percent drop in motor vehicle sales to C$3.6 billion (US$3.52 billion) and a 2 percent drop in fabricated metal products sales.
Factory sales are down significantly from a peak of C$53.2 billion (US$52 billion) back in July 2008 before the global recession began to severely influence the automobile sales.
New factory orders fell to C$44 billion (US$43 billion), a 4.9 percent decline, while unfilled orders decreased to C$53.6 billion (US$52.4 billion), a 1.9 percent drop.