Statistics Canada reports manufacturing and wholesale sales down in December

OTTAWA –

Statistics Canada says manufacturing gross sales fell for a second consecutive month in December as they dropped 1.5 per cent to $71.0 billion.

The company says manufacturing gross sales have been down in 14 of 21 industries in December, led by a 6.4 per cent drop in petroleum and coal product gross sales and a 7.5 per cent drop in wooden merchandise.

Manufacturing gross sales in fixed {dollars} have been down 0.3 per cent in December.

In a separate report, Statistics Canada additionally reported wholesale gross sales fell 0.8 per cent to $82.2 billion in December.

It says gross sales fell in 5 of the seven subsectors that it tracks with gross sales within the equipment, tools and provides group down 3.1 per cent. The miscellaneous subsector misplaced 1.7 per cent.

Wholesale gross sales in fixed {dollars} have been down 1.2 per cent in December.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Feb. 15, 2023