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Canadian Manufacturing Rebounds in March

May 15, 2015
Sales up after 2.2% drop in February.

Manufacturing sales rose 2.9% in March, the government reported, to $51.0 billion. The gains came from increased production of aerospace products and parts and improved automotive sales.

The increase in March, the second improvement for manufacturing in the past six months, followed a 2.2% decrease in February. Sales were 0.3% higher than in March 2014.

Sales rose in 10 of 21 manufacturing industries, Statistics Canada reported, representing 60% of Canada’s manufacturing sector.

New orders rose 5.1% in March, attributed to higher unfilled orders in the transportation equipment industry.

Canadian manufacturing should see a solid 2015 primarily due to a weaker Loonie and the continuing recovery in the North American automotive market, forecast Bill Adams, senior international economist for PNC Financial Services Group.

“The Bank of Canada is making progress in rotating growth from energy to non-energy manufacturing, greatly aided by lower oil prices and a weaker Loonie,” Adams commented. “On balance, the decline in oil prices seems to be having limited effects on the Canadian labor market, since jobs are being added in manufacturing and services and compensating for jobs lost in energy.”

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Steve Minter | Steve Minter, Executive Editor

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An award-winning editor, Executive Editor Steve Minter covers leadership, global economic and trade issues and energy, tackling subject matter ranging from CEO profiles and leadership theories to economic trends and energy policy. As well, he supervises content development for editorial products including the magazine, IndustryWeek.com, research and information products, and conferences.

Before joining the IW staff, Steve was publisher and editorial director of Penton Media’s EHS Today, where he was instrumental in the development of the Champions of Safety and America’s Safest Companies recognition programs.

Steve received his B.A. in English from Oberlin College. He is married and has two adult children.

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