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 strength in the primary metal and chemical subsectors.

Sales in the primary metal subsector gained 14.0 per cent to hit a record $7.6 billion, helped by higher sales volumes and prices, while the chemical subsector increased 4.4 per cent to $6.2 billion. Transportation equipment sales fell 2.6 per cent to $12.0 billion.

In constant dollars, total manufacturing sales were unchanged in August.

In a separate report, Statistics Canada says wholesale sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons as well as oilseed and grain, fell 1.6 per cent to $91.6 billion in August.

— The Canadian Press