OTTAWA, Ont. – Manufacturers’ shipments were up again in November after a brief downward trend in October, according to data from Statistics Canada.

Shipments increased 1.8 per cent to $42.6 billion during the month, with electrical and electronic products and wood being the main contributors to the surge. The rally in shipments signaled a return to the upward movements observed since August of 1998.

Manufacturers’ shipments increased in 17 of the 22 major groups tracked by Statistics Canada, representing 71.7 per cent of the total value of shipments.

The main increases were recorded in the electrical and electronic products industry (up 5.8 per cent) which is enjoying strong demand for its goods and the wood industry (up 5.9 per cent) which is riding a 0.8 per cent price increase.

Also worthy of mention is the 4.8 per cent increase in shipments of refined petroleum and coal, the 2.4 per cent increase in shipments of chemical products and the 2.1 per cent increase in shipments of paper and allied products.

The increases in refined petroleum and coal as well as the gains posted by the paper and allied products sector were partially attributable to price increases (3.3 per cent and 0.8 per cent respectively) while the surge in the chemicals industry is more broad based, according to Statistics Canada.

Taking a geographic perspective, shipments rose in nine provinces in November.

Only New Brunswick and the territories registered decreases. n