August another record for shipments: Stats Can

OTTAWA, (Oct. 15, 2004) — Strong production and high industrial prices fuelled a record $50.8 billion in manufacturing shipments this past August, says Statistics Canada.

That was up 0.8 per cent from the $50.2 billion worth of goods shipped in July. August marked the ninth consecutive monthly increase in shipments, the longest string of gains since 10 consecutive advances from April 1987 to January 1988.

“Strong demand, both domestic and from abroad, continued to fuel Canada’s manufacturing sector,” the agency said Friday. Overall, 12 of 21 industries surveyed, accounting for 65 per cent of total shipments, posted increases in August.

However, manufacturing of non-durable goods fell back 0.4 per cent to $21.7 billion in August, the first decline in 10 months.

New orders fell back one per cent to $50.4 billion, the second decrease in the last nine months. The backlog of unfilled orders weakened in August, pulled down by the aerospace products and parts industry, Statistics Canada said.