Canadian Factory Shipments Rise 3.6% in February, Led by Auto Sector Rebound

According to data from Statistics Canada, the country's factory shipments rose 3.6% month-over-month in February on a seasonally adjusted basis, reaching CAD 71.19 billion (approximately USD 51.7 billion). This increase was slightly below the previously estimated gain of 3.8%, but reversed the downward trend seen in January, when factory shipments were revised to show a 3.1% month-over-month decline—slightly steeper than initially estimated. The statistical agency noted that the rebound in manufacturing and wholesale trade was primarily driven by a recovery in the automotive sector.