Manufacturing sales increased in all provinces in February, led by Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, according to Statistics Canada’s monthly Survey of Manufacturing.
Ontario sales increased 5.1% to $29.1 billion in February, following a 1.3% decline in January. Higher sales of motor vehicle (+27.6%), food (+5.7%), and petroleum (+6.1%) were mainly responsible for the increase. The gains were partially offset by lower sales of computer and electronic products (-17.6%). Year over year, total sales in Ontario were up 17.8% in February.
In Alberta, sales rose 7.2% to $8.4 billion in February, the fifth consecutive monthly increase, on higher sales in 13 of 21 industries led by the petroleum and coal (+12.3%), food (+6.4%), and wood (+16.0%) product industries. Chemical sales marked the largest decrease, down 5.6% to $1.2 billion in February.
Sales in British Columbia increased 3.2% to $5.7 billion in February.
Manufacturing sales increased in 10 of 12 census metropolitan areas in February, led by Toronto and Edmonton. Meanwhile Québec posted the largest decline.
Following a 0.9% decrease in January, Toronto sales rose 3.7% to $11.3 billion in February. Year over year, total sales in Toronto were 18.3% higher in February compared with the same month a year earlier.
Sales in Edmonton increased 8.8% to $3.9 billion in February, the fifth consecutive monthly gain and the highest sales on record. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of the observed monthly gain was attributed to higher sales of petroleum (+11.7%).
In Québec, sales fell 3.7% to $1.9 billion in February on lower sales in the petroleum and coal industry and in miscellaneous manufacturing. The decline in sales of petroleum in February followed a record high in January.
