Canadian sales rose 1.1 percent to a record high $54.4 billion (US$40.9 billion) in April, mainly due to higher sales in the petroleum and coal products, and primary metal industries.
Sales were up in 13 of the 21 industries, representing 62 percent of Canadian manufacturing sales.
Once the effects of price changes are taken into consideration, manufacturing sales volumes rose 0.5 percent in April.
Sales in the petroleum and coal products industry rose 8.9 percent to $5.4 billion (US$4 billion) in April, following two months of declines. The increase reflected higher volumes and prices for petroleum and coal products. After removing the effect of price changes, sales in volume terms increased 7.8 percent in April.
Sales in the primary metal industry rose 3.8 percent to $4.2 billion (US$3.1 billion), the third increase in four months. The increase in April partly reflected higher volumes and prices of primary metal products. In constant dollars, sales in the primary industry were up 2.5 percent, indicating higher volumes of products were sold.
Sales also increased in the paper (+3.5 percent), food (+0.5 percent) and machinery (+1.5 percent) industries. These gains were widespread and reflected higher volumes in these industries.
In contrast, sales in the transportation equipment industry decreased 1.3 percent to $11 billion (US$8.3 billion). The decline was mainly attributable to the motor vehicle (-3.7 percent) and motor vehicle parts (-2.1 percent) industries, which both posted increases the previous month. Once the effects of price changes are taken into consideration, sales volumes declined by 4.7 percent in the motor vehicle industry and 2.9 percent in the motor vehicle parts industry in April.
Sales were up in eight provinces in April, with Quebec and Alberta largely responsible for the total national gain, while sales were down in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
In Quebec, sales rose 2.6 percent to a record high $13 billion (US$9.8 billion) in April, mainly attributable to a 10.9 percent gain in the transportation equipment industry. Sales also rose in the petroleum and coal products, computer and electronic product and primary metal industries.
Sales in Alberta rose for the third consecutive month, up 3 percent to $6 billion (US$4.5 billion) in April. Sales were up in 11 of 21 industries, largely driven by a 7.5 percent increase in the petroleum and coal products industry. Sales were also up in the machinery, food and wood product industries.
The largest monthly decrease was in Saskatchewan, where sales fell 6 percent to $1.3 billion (US$1 billion) in April. This was the third consecutive decline and was largely attributable to lower sales of non-durable goods.
