Canadian manufacturing up in July

OTTAWA, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Across-the-board manufacturing in Canada rose 2.7 percent to a value of $54.1 billion in July, the Statistics Canada agency reported from Ottawa Tuesday.

The result indicated a fourth consecutive monthly gain, which hasn't happened since the first half of 2002, the agency said.

Of 21 manufacturing sectors, 17 reported gains, with primary metal sales leading the advance with a 10.1 percent monthly gain on the heels of a 7.7 percent increase in June. Accordingly, exports of metals and alloys rose 5.4 percent in July to a record $3.6 billion, StatsCan said.

"Machinery manufacturers reported a 4 percent increase in sales, largely due to higher sales of agricultural, construction and mining equipment," the report said.

StatsCan said there was a difference in the July gains, which was based on higher volumes, as compared with "the price-induced increases observed in recent months."