Sales by Canadian manufacturers rose 2.7% in July to post a fourth consecutive monthly increase, Statistics Canada reported today.

The agency added that most of the sales gain to $54.1 billion was due to higher volumes, “in contrast to the price-induced increases observed in recent months.”

It was the first four-month winning streak for factory sales since the first half of 2002, and sales adjusted for inflation were the highest since last November.

Seventeen of the 21 factory manufacturing sectors tracked by StatsCan showed seasonally adjusted increases during July.

Durable goods industries accounted for three-quarters of the total gain with a rise of 4%, propelled by a 10.1% increase for primary metal producers.

The government agency said the transportation equipment industry continued to recover with a 2.3% gain in July as motor vehicle manufacturers’ sales increased 3.1% from June. However motor vehicle factory sales of $4.3 billion remained well below last year’s monthly average of $5 billion.

Machinery manufacturers reported a four% sales improvement for the month, powered by agricultural, construction and mining equipment.

Regionally, manufacturing sales showed some weakness on the East and West coasts, while sales in Central Canada and the Prairies improved compared with June.