Canadian manufacturing sales fell for the second consecutive month in March, while wholesale sales edged higher month-over-month, according to separate reports from Statistics Canada.

Manufacturing

Statistics Canada’s latest Manufacturing report, issued on May 15, showed manufacturing sales declined 1.4% month-over-month in March to $71.9 billion CAD.

Sales in 13 of the country’s 21 manufacturing subsectors decreased in March, led by a 6.5% drop in primary metals to $5.9 billion CAD and a 4.2% decline in petroleum and coal product subsectors to $1.4 billion CAD.

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However, this decline was partially offset by an increase of 11.9% in furniture and related product sales, led by gains in the household and institutional furniture and kitchen cabinet industry group.

In constant dollars, Canada’s Industrial Product Price Index increased 0.5% in March, while total sales declined 1.1% month-over-month.

Canada Manufacturing Sales Month-Over-Month

source: tradingeconomics.com

Wholesale

Statistics Canada issued a separate Wholesale Sales report on May 15, showing an increase in sales of 0.2% to $86.5 billion CAD in March. The report excludes petroleum, petroleum and other hydrocarbons and excludes oilseed and grain.

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Sales rose in three of the nation’s seven wholesale subsectors, accounting for 32.0% of total wholesale sales. The increase was led by a 4.5% gain in motor vehicle parts and accessories, followed by an increase of 4.1% in miscellaneous.

Wholesale sales in March were 5.7% higher year-over-year. However, in volume terms, sales declined by 0.3%, excluding the items listed above.

Canada Wholesale Sales Month-Over-Month

source: tradingeconomics.com