OTTAWA — Manufacturing sales advanced to close out 2010.

Sales reached $45.4 billion (up 0.4%) on the gains by primary metal and petroleum and coal product industries.

But a stronger performance was stunted by a decline in aerospace product and parts (-16.6%) , reports Stats Canada.

Manufacturing sales have been moving upwards at a slower rate in recent months, after increasing substantially between May 2009 and May 2010.

Inventory levels remained unchanged at $61 billion.

A large increase in the motor vehicle industry was offset by a fall in aerospace product and parts inventories. Despite remaining at the same level in December, inventories have risen in five of the past seven months since their most recent low of $58.6 billion in May 2010.