Manufacturing sales up 1.5% in August

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says total manufacturing sales rose 1.5 per cent to $79.9 billion in August, helped by higher sales of primary metal and chemical subsectors.

Sales in the primary metal subsector gained 14.0 per cent to hit a record $7.6 billion in August, as sales volumes and prices rose, while the chemical subsector increased 4.4 per cent to $6.2 billion.

In constant dollar terms, manufacturing sales were unchanged in August.

Statistics Canada says sales rose in seven of 11 subsectors, including petroleum and coal products, and other hydrocarbons as well as oilseed and grain, which gained 15 per cent to $9.70 billion in August.