Canadian manufacturing sales increased 0.4 percent in March to $50.9 billion, according to Statistics Canada. This is the sixth advance in seven months. The increase mostly reflected higher sales in the food, machinery, and plastics and rubber products industries.
Constant dollar sales were up 0.5 percent, indicating a rise in volumes.
Food sales rose 2.1 percent to $7.8 billion.
Machinery sales increased 3.3 percent to $3.1 billion. The plastics and rubber products industry sales increased 2.7 percent to 2.1 billion.
Sales declines were widespread in paper products and coal and petroleum product industries.
Manufacturing sales were up in five provinces, with Quebec leading the way posting a 2 percent increase to $12.2 billion.
Sales in Ontario posted a 0.6 percent increase to $23.3 billion.
Alberta manufacturing sales rose 1.7 percent to $6.6 billion. This largely reflected higher sales in the food and machinery industries.
Sales decreased in New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Unfilled orders decreased to 0.8 percent to $89.4 billion, following a 15.4 percent rise in February.
In the petroleum and coal products industry, inventories rose 4.5 percent. The paper industry increased 4.9 percent and wood products rose 3.3 percent to $4.7 billion.
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