Motor vehicle manufacturing in Ontario revved up in February, breaking months of declines in manufacturing sales in Canada, according to Statistics Canada numbers released Friday.
Total manufacturing sales rose to $42.9 billion from $42 billion in January, due mainly from a 7.2% increase in sales in Ontario to $19.3 billion from $18 billion.
Motor vehicle manufacturers reported a 34.5% sales gain, while auto parts sales were up $38.5%.
But despite February's increase, motor vehicle and parts sales are still 40% below levels a year ago.
Excluding auto-related manufacturing, sales declined 0.2%, the seventh monthly decline in a row.
B.C.'s manufacturing sector continued its decline that began in November. Manufacturing sales fell 2.5% to $2.8 billion in February as the forestry sector continues to contract with record-low housing starts in the U.S.
Since October, B.C.'s manufacturing sales have fallen 17.6%.