Strength in the auto sector helped boost both manufacturing and wholesale sales in February as several auto assembly plants ramped up operations following planned maintenance and retooling shutdowns.
Statistics Canada said Wednesday manufacturing sales rose 3.6% to $71.2 billion in February following a drop of 3.1% in January.
The reading came as sales rose in 12 of the 21 subsectors, led by an 18.8% gain in transportation equipment as auto production increased.
Sales in the machinery subsector also climbed higher as they increased 7.7% in February, while sales of primary metals hit a new record high as they gained 4.9% to $6.5 billion.
Meanwhile, sales of chemical products fell 3.2% to $5 billion in February.
In constant dollars, total manufacturing sales rose 3.4% in February.
In a separate report, Statistics Canada says wholesale sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain, climbed 2% higher to total $86.8 billion in February.
Wholesale sales increased in five of the seven subsectors, with the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector up 6.1%.
The food, beverage and tobacco subsector rose 2.9%, while personal and household goods gained 2.5% in February.
The miscellaneous subsector edged down 0.6%.
In volume terms, wholesale sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain, rose 1.1% in February.
Statistics Canada has started including oilseed and grain as well as the petroleum and petroleum products subsector as part of wholesale trade, but is excluding the data from its monthly analysis until there is enough historical data for comparison.