Canada’s manufacturing sector recorded a sharp setback at the start of the year, with manufacturing sales falling 3.0% month-over-month in January 2026. This marks a significant reversal from the previous month, when sales had inched up by 0.4% compared with the month before.
Both the current and previous readings are measured on a month-over-month basis, meaning January’s result reflects the change from December 2025, while the earlier 0.4% figure captured the change from November to December. The fresh data, updated on March 13, 2026, point to renewed weakness in factory activity after a modest year-end improvement, underscoring a more fragile backdrop for Canadian manufacturing as the new year began.
