According to Statistics Canada, manufacturing sales rose 1.1 percent to a record high $54.4 billion in April, mainly due to higher sales in the petroleum and coal product, and primary metal industries. Sales were up in 13 of the 21 industries, representing 62 percent of Canadian manufacturing sales. Once the effects of price changes are taken into consideration, manufacturing sales volumes rose 0.5 percent in April.
Sales in the primary metal industry rose 3.8 percent to $4.2 billion, the third increase in four months. The increase in April partly reflected higher volumes and prices of primary metal products. In constant dollars, sales in the primary metal industry were up 2.5 percent, indicating higher volumes of products were sold.
In contrast, sales in the transportation equipment industry decreased 1.3 percent to $11.0 billion. The decline was mainly attributable to the motor vehicle (-3.7 percent) and motor vehicle parts (-2.1 percent) industries, which both posted increases the previous month. Once the effects of price changes are taken into consideration, sales volumes declined by 4.7 percent in the motor vehicle industry and 2.9 percent in the motor vehicle parts industry in April.
Inventory levels rose for the fifth consecutive month, up 0.9 percent to $73.4 billion in April. Inventories were up in 14 of 21 industries, led by the transportation equipment (+1.9 percent) and primary metal (+2.4 percent) industries. These gains were partially offset by a 2.2 percent decline in petroleum and coal product inventories. The inventory-to-sales ratio was unchanged at 1.35 in April.
Unfilled orders rose for the third consecutive month, up 1.0 percent to $90.2 billion in April, reflecting a 1.7 percent gain in the aerospace product and parts industry to $49.8 billion. Unfilled orders in this industry represented more than half of total orders.
Unfilled orders rose for the third consecutive month, up 1.0 percent to $90.2 billion in April, reflecting a 1.7 percent gain in the aerospace product and parts industry to $49.8 billion. Unfilled orders in this industry represented more than half of total orders.
New orders rose 0.4 percent to $55.3 billion, the fifth consecutive monthly gain. The increase, which was mainly attributable to more new orders in the petroleum and coal products and aerospace product and parts industries, was partially offset by fewer new orders in the motor vehicle industry.