Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales fell 2.0 per cent to $71.6 billion in May

Canadian manufacturing sales fell 2.0 per cent to $71.6 billion in May as auto production fell in the month, Statistics Canada said Thursday.

The agency said the first drop in manufacturing sales after seven consecutive months of gains came as sales fell in 11 of the 21 industries it tracks.

Transportation equipment sales were down 15.7 per cent in the month at $8.5 billion as sales in the motor vehicle industry fell 31.9 per cent to $3.3 billion in May due to retooling at auto assembly plants and semiconductor part shortages.

Despite the decline, motor vehicle sales were up 41.3 per cent compared with a year ago.