Manufacturing opens year on high note

OTTAWA — For the fifth straight month manufacturing sales rose in Canada — this time by 2.4 percent to kick off 2010.

Sales gains (to $44.6 billion) were broadly based in January, reports Stats Canada, with 17 of 21 industries reporting increases compared to December.

Some of the larger gains included advances in primary metals (up 8.5%), which have steadily increased since July of last year; as well as petroleum and coal products (plus 3.4%).

The transportation equipment industry was one of only four industries to report weaker sales in January. It was down by 3.4 percent, giving back a small portion of the 29 percent boost from previous months.

British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario led all provinces in January. B.C. has posted increases every month since August 2009 except for December thanks to gains in primary metals and wood product industries.

Sales in the Atlantic provinces were up overall by 3.2 percent with improvements in New Brunswick (+6.8%) and Nova Scotia (+5.5%) partially offset by decreased sales in Newfoundland and PEI.

Inventory levels remained unchanged in January. Manufacturers had shed $8.8 billion or 12.8% of their inventories between October 2008 and September 2009, before leveling off in recent months, says Statscan.