Statistics Canada released its Monthly Survey of Manufacturing on Thursday, which showed that the Canadian manufacturing sales rose 2.1 percent m-o-m in March to CAD57.97 billion, following an unrevised 0.2 percent m-o-m decrease in February.

Economists had anticipated an advance of 1.1 percent m-o-m for March.

According to the survey, sales increased in 12 of 21 industries, representing 56.4 percent of total manufacturing sales. The transportation equipment (+4.5 percent m-o-m), petroleum and coal product (+8.2 percent m-o-m), and primary metal (+5.3 percent m-o-m) industries posted the largest gains in March. Sales were also up in the aerospace product and parts (+7.1 percent m-o-m), machinery (+2.2 percent m-o-m), miscellaneous (+7.2 percent m-o-m) and computer and electronic product (+3.8 percent m-o-m) industries. These gains, however, were partially offset by declines in the paper (-2.2 percent m-o-m), electric equipment, appliance and component (-4.6 percent m-o-m) and plastic and rubber product (-1.3 percent m-o-m) industries.

Overall, sales of durable goods surged 2.9 percent m-o-m in March, while sales of non-durable goods rose 1.3 percent m-o-m.