(Photo: General Motors)

OTTAWA  Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales rose 2.6 per cent to $49.6 billion in February, the largest increase since July 2011.

The agency says the gain was due largely to higher sales in the transportation equipment, petroleum and coal product, food, and miscellaneous manufacturing industries.

It says the gain was broad-based, as sales rose in 14 of 21 industries, representing approximately 85 per cent of the manufacturing sector.

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Constant dollar manufacturing sales increased 2.5 per cent, indicating that most of the gain reflected higher sales volumes.

Sales of durable goods were up 3.7 per cent to $25.1 billion, while non-durable goods sales rose 1.5 per cent to $24.5 billion.

Sales rose in eight provinces in February, led by Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick.