May 15, 2008

Source: Statistics Canada
 
Canadian manufacturers gave back some of their recent gains in March as factory sales retreated 1.6% to $49.0 billion.
 
The scope of March’s slowdown was extensive as 18 of the 21 manufacturing industries, representing 76% of total sales, posted declines. A sharp downturn in motor vehicle manufacturing was the chief contributor.
 
Sales were down 7.7% compared with the peak level of $53.1 billion set in March 2007.
Manufacturing activity falters during the first quarter
 
In the first quarter of 2008, manufacturing sales fell 5.5% to $143.8 billion compared with the same period one year earlier. The ongoing slump in the auto …

Industrial production declined 0.7 percent in April after having risen 0.2 percent in March. Manufacturing output fell 0.8 percent in April.
 
As was the case in March, factory output in April was held down by a large drop in the index for motor vehicles and parts; strikes and strike-related parts shortages resulted in suspended production at many facilities.
 
Excluding motor vehicles and parts, manufacturing production fell back 0.4 percent after having increased 0.3 percent in March.
 
In April, the output of utilities rose 0.3 percent, and the output at mines decreased 0.8 percent. At 111.2 percent of its 2002 average, overall industrial production was 0.2 percent above its year-earlier level.
 
The rate of capacity utilization for total …