Manufacturing sales in April see biggest monthly drop since 2023

Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales are now at their lowest level since January 2022 after a second consecutive monthly decline.

Drops in sales of petroleum and coal products (down 10.9%), motor vehicles (down 8.3%) and primary metals (down 4.4%) drove the decrease.

While the trade war began in March, April marked the first full month of U.S. tariffs in many sectors — particularly targeting Canada’s steel, aluminum and automotive industries.

Roughly half of manufacturers surveyed by Statistics Canada said they were affected by tariffs in some form in April, as were 43% of wholesalers.

A separate release from Statistics Canada says wholesale sales fell 2.3% in April, with the motor vehicles, parts and accessories subsector leading the decline.

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press

Craig Lord is a reporter with The Canadian Press, a national news agency headquartered in Toronto and founded in 1917.