Manufacturing sales rise 4.2% in April to $77.1B

Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales rose 4.2% to $77.1 billion in April, as the petroleum and coal product group hit a record high.

Petroleum and coal product sales jumped 22.6 % to $11.8 billion, following a 25.5% increase in March, helped by higher volumes as several refineries ramped up production after maintenance shutdowns.

Total manufacturing sales in constant dollars rose 1.8% in April.

In a separate report, Statistics Canada says wholesale sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain, rose 0.6% to $89.3 billion in April.

The building material and supplies subsector was up 4.3% at $12.7 billion, while the mineral, ore and precious metal industry group rose 15.7% to $1 billion.

In volume terms, wholesale sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain, fell 0.3% in April.

The Canadian Press

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