Statistics Canada says, following two consecutive monthly declines, manufacturing sales rose 2.1% to $59.2 billion in June. Most of the increase was attributable to improved production at auto assembly plants and higher sales of petroleum and coal products.

Saskatchewan easily outperformed the national average, with sales increasing here 7.5 per cent. We also had the best showing of the provinces. Compared to June a year go, sales here were up 61 per cent. New Brunswick was the only other provinces in that league with an increase there of 61.4 per cent. The national average was an increase of 20 per cent. Total sales in Saskatchewan rang in at $1.7 billion.

In the Saskatoon, census metropolitan area, sales rose 7.7 per cent month to month and 27.8 per cent year to year. We outperformed most of the other CMAs on both counts. Total sales here came to $422 million.