Statistics Canada reports manufacturing sales fell 0.6% in April

OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales fell 0.6% to $57.8 billion in April as sales in the in the transportation equipment and primary metal industries declined.

The drop followed a 2.6% increase in March.

Economists had expected an increase of 0.4% for April, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon.

Sales were down in eight of 21 industries, representing 36.1% of total Canadian manufacturing.

Excluding transportation equipment, which fell 6.7%, overall manufacturing sales rose 0.8%.

In volume terms, manufacturing sales were down 0.8%.