Statistics Canada has reported that manufacturing sales declined 0.8% (-$360 million) to $46.0 billion in May, remaining relatively flat since January 2011.

Constant dollar manufacturing sales declined 0.8% in May. The overall decrease in current dollar sales reflected a 2.4% decline on the non-durable goods side of manufacturing.

The declines were mostly concentrated in the food, petroleum and coal product and chemical industries. In contrast, the durable goods industries rose 0.8% in May. Lower sales were reported in 11 of 21 industries, representing 71.9% of total manufacturing. In May, Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta and British Columbia had the largest declines in manufacturing sales.

Sales in Newfoundland and Labrador fell 40.4% to $299 million, the largest decrease in percentage terms since April 2009. The decline stemmed from lower sales in non-durable goods industries.
In Alberta, sales fell 2.9% to $5.7 billion. A 16.4% dro in the chemical industry was the largest factor in the decline. Petroleum and coal products (-2.3%), food (-3.4%) and fabricated metal products (-7.0%) also contributed to the decrease.

In British Columbia, sales were down 3.9% to $3.1 billion, with 13 of 21 industries posting declines compared with April. Paper (-10.1%) and wood product (-7.0%) manufacturers reported the largest decreases.

Sales in Saskatchewan rose 8.6% in May to $1.1 billion. The gains were largely attributable to increases reported by manufacturers in the non-durable goods industries. Higher sales in the chemical industry accounted for part of the advance.

In Ontario, sales advanced 0.4% to $20.6 billion, following a 1.8% dro in April. Sales in the primary metal, computer and electronic product and machinery industries led the gains.

Related: Outputs and inputs down for June: RBC

Read the story on Statistics Canadas website