The western provinces led the gains in manufacturing sales in August but even in Ontario and Quebec, where sales declined from the previous month, they were up year-over-year. PHOTO courtesy Prima Power.
Canadian manufacturing sales increased in seven provinces in August, led by Alberta (+6.0%) and Manitoba (+10.0%). Quebec (-1.8%) experienced the largest decrease.
In Alberta, sales rose for the second consecutive month, up 6.0% to $8.7 billion in August. The monthly increase was largely driven by higher sales of petroleum products (+16.4%), which also contributed significantly to higher total sales in Edmonton (+12.3%).
Sales in Manitoba rose 10.0% to $2.2 billion in August, following a 12.1% decline in July. Higher sales of chemical products, transportation equipment and food subsectors contributed the most to the gain. The transportation equipment and chemical subsectors were also mainly responsible for higher total sales in Winnipeg (+17.3%) in August.
Sales in Quebec fell 1.8% to $17.5 billion in August, on lower sales in 13 of 21 subsectors, led by the primary metal subsector (-11.0%). The decline in the subsector was partially attributable to lower prices of aluminum in August. Despite the monthly decline, total sales in Quebec were 3.0% higher on a yearly basis in August. Despite the decline, manufacturing sales in Quebec were up 3% compared to the same time the previous year.
Ontario sales also slipped 0.6% compared to the previous month but were still up 6.5% compared to the same time last year.
