Source: The Canadian Press

Manufacturing sales declined 0.8% in November to $44.9 billion, led by decreases in the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts industries.

Statistics Canada reports manufacturing sales edged up 0.2% when the motor vehicle industries were excluded.

Constant-dollar manufacturing sales fell 1.4% in November.

Higher sales were reported in 12 of 21 industries, representing 55.2% of total manufacturing.

Sales in the transportation equipment industry fell 7%, led by declines in motor vehicle (down 9.2%) and motor vehicle parts (down 6.5) manufacturing.

Primary metal sales also declined, down 1.9%, though they remained 22.9% higher than a year earlier.

Outside of the transportation and primary metal industries, many manufacturers reported gains over October.

Computer and electronic product sales led the gains, rising 5.1%. Food manufacturing (up 0.7%), as well as beverage and tobacco product sales (up 2.9), rose for the first time in four months.

Petroleum and coal product sales advanced 1% in November, their fifth straight increase.

Seven provinces reported sales gains. However, these advances were more than offset by declines in New Brunswick, Alberta, and in particular, Ontario, where sales dropped 2.3%.

Manitoba led the provincial sales advances in November, increasing 7.6% following a 6.1% drop in October.

Nationally, inventory levels increased 1.3% in November to $61.1 billion. Unfilled orders advanced 0.5% to $52.7 billion in November, the first increase in three months.

New orders advanced 1.6%.