Factory shipments bounced back in November mainly because of a strong showing in the transportation equipment sector, Statistics Canada reported today.

Canadian manufacturers shipped goods worth about $49 billion, up 2.3% from October.

Taking price fluctuations into account, the volume of shipments increased 2% to $44.7 billion, the largest single monthly constant-dollar increase in 15 months, after trending downward for most of the year.

Widespread price declines had little effect on the value of shipments, especially in the petroleum and coal industry, where the monthly drop in prices for petroleum and coal was the smallest in two years.

On a year-to-date basis, the volume of shipments fell 1.6% between January and November 2006, compared with the same period in 2005.

November’s increase was widespread as 13 sectors, representing 73% of total output, increased.