Canadian factory sales are estimated to have fallen 0.2% in July from June, Statistics Canada reported in a flash estimate released Monday.
The decline was primarily driven by lower sales in the chemical and fabricated metal product subsectors, the agency said. The preliminary estimate, based on a weighted response rate of 69.8%, reflects seasonally adjusted data.
The response rate for the survey was notably below the 12-month trailing average of 92.5%, which Statistics Canada noted may affect the reliability of the flash estimate. The agency typically publishes its full factory sales report with a one-month lag.
