Statistics Canada released its Monthly Survey of Manufacturing on Tuesday, which showed that the Canadian manufacturing sales declined 0.6 percent m-o-m in April to CAD57.78 billion, following a revised 2.6 percent m-o-m surge in March (originally a 2.1 percent m-o-m gain).

Economists had anticipated an advance of 0.4 percent m-o-m for April.

According to the survey, sales decreased in 8 of 21 industries, representing 36.1 percent of total manufacturing sales. The transportation equipment (-6.7 percent m-o-m) and primary metal (-5.3 percent m-o-m) industries posted the largest declines in April. Excluding transportation equipment, manufacturing sales increased by 0.8 percent m-o-m in April.

Overall, sales of durable goods fell 3.5 percent m-o-m in April, while sales of non-durable goods rose 2.6 percent m-o-m.