Statistics Canada reported Wednesday that Canadian factory sales totaled $45.5 billion in October, a 1.7 percent increase over the previous month. The gain is largely attributed to gains in the petroleum and coal products, primary metal, and motor vehicle industries.
Higher sales were seen in 14 of 21 industries, representing 80 percent of total sales.
Sales in the petroleum and coal products industry rose 4.3 percent to $6 billion in October as a result a 4.4 percent rise in prices.
In the primary metals industry, sales increased 5.8 percent to $3.8 billion. The rise reflects both higher volumes and prices.
Sales increased 3.7 percent in the motor vehicle industry and production in the aerospace product and parts industry was up 7.4 percent.