Canadian manufacturing sales continued to rise in September, amid strong demand for energy products and transportation equipment, official data showed Tuesday. Manufacturing sales rose 2.6 percent to C$49.2 billion in September, the third consecutive monthly increase, according to Statistics Canada. With refineries getting back on-line after maintenance, sales of petroleum and coal products were up 13.7 percent to C$7.6 billion in September. The increase was the largest in percentage terms since March 1999.
In the transportation equipment industry, sales rose 7.1 percent to C$8.0 billion. The increase reflected gains in the aerospace product and parts, and motor vehicle industries.
On the other hand, food industry sales dried up, while jewelery and silverware makers also had a rough month. Stronger manufacturing sales were reported in nine provinces in September. The top contributors in dollar terms were Alberta, Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario. Manufacturing sales were up 10.8 percent in September compared to the same month a year ago, an increase from the 7.4 percent annual increase reported in August.