The Canadian Press

Manufacturing sales dropped 2.1% to $40.9 billion in August after a 5.2% gain in July.

Statistics Canada reports the aerospace product and parts and motor vehicle industries were the major contributors to the decline in sales.

Sales have been relatively level since February, after plummeting 20.4% between last October and January.

Constant dollar manufacturing sales fell 2.3% in August as sales in 13 of 21 manufacturing industries declined.

Production in the aerospace product and parts industry fell 35.6% to $1.2 billion.

Excluding the decline in aerospace, manufacturing sales fell 0.6%.

Manufacturing sales in the motor vehicle industry fell 6.3% to $3.1 billion after a 48.8% gain in July.

Miscellaneous manufacturing (down 10.5%) and chemical manufacturing (down 2.5) also reported decreases.

Sales in the petroleum and coal products industry rose 7.2%, mainly due to higher prices.

Sales decreased four% in Quebec and 3.2% in Ontario.

Alberta manufacturing sales were up 4.9%.