Higher gasoline prices and auto production drive nominal gains, but real sales remain subdued due to industrial price increases.
Canadian manufacturing sales are expected to climb 3.2% month-on-month in March, slightly below the 3.5% market consensus. The increase is led by a 20% jump in gasoline prices and stronger transportation product output, particularly autos.
The gain follows a 3.6% rise in February but is tempered by a 2.4% increase in industrial prices, which limits real sales growth. Non-energy exports showed modest gains, aligning with broader trends.
While nominal figures benefit from energy and auto sectors, the muted real performance suggests only a modest boost to GDP for the period.