Economy

Sales Volume Up 1% for Canadian Manufacturing
Written by Sandy Williams
November 17, 2013
Canadian manufacturing sales rose 0.6 percent to $49.9 billion in September according to the November release by Statistics Canada. Sales were at their highest level since June 2012 mostly due to gains in the automobile and food industries. Volume sales gained 1.0 percent for the month, a positive indicator for economic health.
Of the 21 industries surveyed, 11 reported higher sales in September. Sales of both durable and non-durable goods rose 0.6 percent.
Manufacturers saw a decline of 0.9 percent in inventories quarter-over-quarter but were up 1.5 percent year-over-year. Unfilled orders declined 2.2 percent and new orders fell 2.6 percent as a result of a decrease in demand in the aerospace products and parts industry. The inventory to sales ratio (months on hand at current sales levels) dropped to 1.37 from 1.39 in August.
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Economy
US housing starts gain momentum in July
US housing starts rose in July both month-on-month and year-on-year, according to figures from the US Census Bureau.
Manufacturing in New York state improves again in August
Business activity in New York state improved modestly in August. It was just the second positive reading for the general business conditions index in six months.
President Trump intends to set additional steel tariffs
While boarding Airforce One on Friday, US President Donald Trump stated that he would be setting more steel tariffs and putting ~100% tariffs on semiconductors and chips.
Hot-rolled spot market conditions linger, prices slip
Market participants said they have high hopes that the stable hot-rolled spot market will improve as the year rolls on.
Dodge Momentum Index surges in July
The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) jumped 20.8% in July and is now up 27% year-to-date, according to the latest data released by Dodge Construction Network.
