Canadian Factory Shipments Fall in March

anadian factory shipments fell unexpectedly in March, while inventories reached their highest level in more than three years on slower automobile sales, Bloomberg reported Friday.

Shipments fell by about $40 million in the month, Bloomberg reported, citing Statistics Canada, a government agency. February’s decline was revised upward to 0.7% from 0.5%.

Sixteen of 21 manufacturing industries accounting for 80% of total shipments reported declines, Bloomberg said.

Unfilled orders rose 2.1% and new orders fell 0.5% to $40 million.