Alberta’s manufacturing industry and the province’s economy has experienced another positive month.

Statistics Canada reported on Wednesday that manufacturing sales in Alberta increased for the fifth consecutive month, rising 2.2 per cent to $7 billion in May.

“The gain was mostly attributable to higher sales in the petroleum and coal product (+3.8 per cent) and chemical (+7.0 per cent) industries,” said the federal agency.

On an annual basis, manufacturing sales in Alberta are up 11 per cent – a significant hike compared to the rest of the country.

In Canada, manufacturing sales rose 1.6 per cent to $58.9 billion in May, following a 0.4 per cent decline in April. The increase was mainly due to higher sales in the transportation equipment industry, said StatsCan.

On an annual basis, sales in Canada rose by three per cent.

In May, sales were up in 12 of 21 Canadian industries, representing 66.2 per cent of total Canadian manufacturing.

“Sales in the transportation equipment industry rose 8.1 per cent to $11.2 billion in May, following a 5.8 per cent decline in April. This increase was due to higher sales in the motor vehicle (+13.3 per cent) and motor vehicle parts (+7.3 per cent) industries. The increase in motor vehicle sales was the result of more units produced at all assembly plants, and in particular, those that had shutdowns in the previous month,” said Statistics Canada.

“Sales in the petroleum and coal product industry were up for the fifth straight month, rising 2.0 per cent to $6.7 billion in May. This stemmed from higher sales from several refineries and asphalt product manufacturers. In volume terms, sales rose 2.6 per cent in the petroleum and coal industry in May. Sales also increased in the fabricated metal product (+3.1 per cent), chemical (+2.1 per cent) and machinery (+1.7 per cent) industries.”

It said the increases were partially offset by declines in the food (-1.7 per cent), primary metal (-2.1 per cent), and printing and related support activities (-5.6 per cent) industries.

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