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Declines in sales by Canada's aerospace and auto industries held back manufacturing sales gains in November, which logged a slim 0.1-per-cent rise to $42.6-billion for the month, Statistics Canada reported Wednesday.

The agency said the transportation equipment industry saw a 4.3-per-cent decline in sales for the month, the aerospace product and parts industry down 15.4 per cent after a 48.2 per cent jump in the previous month. Motor vehicle sales fell 4.5 per cent after two months of gains.

Chemical manufacturers reported sales up 5.3 per cent from October, with one-third of the gain from rising pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing sales.

Petroleum and coal industry sales rose 2.9 per cent driven by prices that were up 4.7 per cent month over month.

Inventory levels fell 0.3 per cent to $59.7-billion, 12.2 per cent lower than in November, 2008. It was the 10th decrease in the past 12 months.

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