Statistics Canada released its Monthly Survey of Manufacturing on Tuesday, which showed that the Canadian manufacturing sales fell 0.7 percent m-o-m in December to CAD56.41 billion, following a revised 1.0 percent m-o-m decline in November (originally a 0.6 percent m-o-m drop).

Economists had forecast a 0.5 percent m-o-m increase for December.

According to the survey, sales decreased in 11 of 21 industries, representing 42.6 percent of total manufacturing sales. lower sales in the motor vehicle assembly (-6.8 percent m-o-m) and aerospace product and parts (-15.7 percent m-o-m), the plastic and rubber products (-5.6 percent m-o-m), motor vehicle parts (-3.7 percent m-o-m), fabricated metal product (-2.4 percent m-o-m) and printing and related support activities (-6.8 percent m-o-m) industries were partly offset by higher sales in the primary metal industry (+8.7 percent m-o-m).

Overall, sales of durable goods industries declined 1.3 percent m-o-m in December, while sales of non-durable goods industries were flat m-o-m.