Canada’s manufacturing industry saw sales rise by 2.9% in March to $51.0 billion, according to the latest Government figures. This was mainly due to increased production of aerospace parts and improved automotive sales; it followed a 2.2% decrease in February.

Statistics Canada reported that sales rose in 10 out of 21 sectors, representing 60% of Canada’s manufacturing industry.

New orders rose by 5.1% in March, which Statistics Canada attributed to “higher unfilled orders in the transportation equipment industry”.

Bill Adams, senior international economist for the PNC Financial Services Group, said: “Manufacturing should see
a solid 2015, primarily due to a weaker Canadian dollar, lower oil prices and the continuing recovery in the North American automotive market.

“On balance, the decline in oil prices seems to be having limited effects on the Canadian labour market, because jobs being added in manufacturing and services are compensating for jobs lost in energy.”