Canada's October manufacturing sales hit 7-year low

Special Report:Global Financial Crisis

OTTAWA, Dec. 16 (Chinese media) -- Manufacturing sales in Canada decreased 1.8

percent in October to touch the lowest monthly level since December 2001,

federal agency Statistics Canada reported Tuesday.

Petroleum and coal prices, which dropped 13.5 percent in October, were the

biggest contributors to bringing down the country's sales value, the report

said.

The sales value of petroleum and coal products declined 7.3 percent in the

month, their fourth straight monthly drop.

According to Statistics Canada, eight of 21 manufacturing industries,

accounting for about 40 percent of total sales, reported decreases in October,

while seven out of the country's 10provinces reported a decrease in October in

manufacturing sales.

The transportation equipment industry, however, advanced 2.3 percent in

October, led by aerospace products and parts production with a 23.7-percent

increase.