Statistics Canada released its Monthly Survey of Manufacturing on Tuesday, which showed that the Canadian manufacturing sales fell 0.2 percent m-o-m in February to CAD56.64 billion, following a revised 0.8 percent m-o-m increase in January (originally a 1.0 percent m-o-m gain).

Economists had anticipated flat m-o-m performance for February. 

According to the survey, sales declined in 15 of 21 industries, representing 65.9 percent of total manufacturing sales. The largest drops were in the motor vehicle assembly (-4.4 percent m-o-m) and wood products (-5.9 percent m-o-m) industries. However, these decreases were largely offset by gains in the petroleum and coal product (+7.1 percent m-o-m, paper (+6.8 percent m-o-m) and machinery (+3.3 percent m-o-m) industries.

Overall, sales of durable goods fell 1.4 percent m-o-m in February, while sales of non-durable goods rose 1.2 percent m-o-m.