Manufacturing sales fell 1.3% in July: Statistics Canada

OTTAWA —  Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales fell 1.3% to $57.2 billion in July as sales in the primary metal and motor vehicle industries moved lower.

The agency says sales were down in 11 industries in July, representing 66.8% of total manufacturing sales.

Economists had expected a decline of 0.2%, according to financial markets data firm Refinitiv.

Statistics Canada says primary metal industry sales fell 7.3% in July as every primary metal industry except alumina and aluminum production and processing reported lower sales.

Motor vehicle industry sales dropped 4.7% due in part to an extended shutdown at a major assembly plant for maintenance projects to support new model production.

Manufacturing sales in constant dollars were down 1.6% in July, indicating that a lower volume of products was sold.