Manufacturing sales were quite week already last year. Overall we saw just four positive months last year, when sales increased, leaving us with eight declining months. In February, sales turned positive at last, but that didn’t last long. In March sales declined by 9.2% as the country started going into lock-down, while in April we are seeing a record decline, as today’s report shows.

Canada April 2020 Manufacturing Sales Report

• April manufacturing sales -28.5% vs -20.0% expected
• Biggest decline on record
• March manufacturing sales at -9.2%
• Sales down in all 21 industries
• 85.2% of manufacturers said activities impacted by COVID-19
• Transportation equipment -76.4% including 97.5% in motor vehicle parts
• Sales in petroleum and coal -46.5%
• Ex autos -21.5%
• Inventories -0.6% vs +0.7% prior
• Unfilled orders -1.2%
• New orders -31.3%