Manufacturing sales increase 0.3% in September, above expectations

OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales rose 0.3 per cent to $51.5 billion in September, boosted by higher sales in the transportation equipment and fabricated metal industries.

Economists had expected a gain of 0.1 per cent, according to Thomson Reuters.

Sales were up in 12 of 21 industries, representing 70.1 per cent of the total manufacturing sector.

Sales in constant dollar terms sales slipped 0.2 per cent, indicating a lower volume of goods sold.

The transportation equipment industry gained 1.5 per cent to $10.6 billion in September, while fabricated metal product sales increased 2.4 per cent to $2.7 billion.

The primary metal product industry fell 3.4 per cent to $3.8 billion.

Statistics Canada said sales were up in five provinces, with gains in Quebec and Ontario partly offset by declines in New Brunswick.