Statistics Canada reported Wednesday that new orders for manufactured goods fell 4.7 percent to $48.5 billion in October. Meanwhile, inventory levels rose 1.4 percent in October--the 13th consecutive month of growth in inventories for Canadian manufacturers.
Overall, manufacturing sales fell 0.8 percent in October to $48.7 billion after increases in the past three months. Still, October's sales were the second highest of any month in 2011, surpassed only by September.
Sales in primary metals and fabricated metal products increased 0.3 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively, from September while motor vehicle parts sales increased 6.2 percent, although actual car sales slipped 0.2 percent.