After eight consecutive monthly increases, seasonally-adjusted manufacturing sales in Alberta fell by 1.8% ($174 million) in June. National sales were down by 0.8% ($590 million).

The decline in Alberta was driven by lower sales in two categories: petroleum product sales fell by 5.7% ($189 million) while wood product sales fell by 18.2% ($120 million).

Other categories that lost ground in June include beverages (-5.5%), mineral products (-10.5%) and transportation equipment (-27.8%).

Despite these declines, numerous categories saw sales go up in June, including food products (+0.9%), chemicals (+4.5%), fabricated metal products (+4.0%), machinery (+11.0%), and furniture (+8.0%).

Sales in Alberta over the first half of the year were much higher than in 2021 with year-to-date sales up by an impressive 32.6% ($13.1 billion).

Year-to-date sales were also higher nationally at +21.1% ($73.5 billion).

Answer to the previous trivia question: Amendments to the Old Age Security Act lowered the eligible age for the OAS pension to 65, one year at a time, starting in 1966 at the age of 69.

Today’s trivia question: Which American university is home to one of the world’s largest 3D printers?