It's manufacturing that helps make Canada go, but the brakes were put on in July, according to figures released by Statistics Canada.
The agency said Canadian manufacturing sales dropped by 2.6% in July, the most in more than a year, as annual auto plant shutdowns cut sales of cars and motor vehicle parts.
The decline was the biggest since the 4.2% plunge seen in February 2016. Analysts had predicted a 1.6% dip.
Sales fell in nine of 21 industries, representing 57% of the manufacturing sector and in volume terms fell by 1.4%.
The transportation equipment industry posted a 13.8% decline, the largest since May 2009. The nation's number crunchers also said the auto plant shutdowns were longer and more concentrated in July compared with previous years.
