Canadian Manufacturing Sales Dropped In December

Statistics Canada reported both prices and volume dropped as manufacturing sales declined 8% to $44.2 billion in December, their largest monthly percentage decline since the start of the current series in January 1992, The Canadian Press reports.

The agency said sales fell in 20 of 21 manufacturing industries, with printing and related support activities recording the only increase, at 0.1%. Manufacturing sales in the petroleum and coal products industry fell 18.4% to $4.4 billion, while motor vehicle industry sales declined 14.2% to $3.2 billion. Primary metal manufacturers also reported substantially lower sales, down 14.4% to $3.5 billion.