Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales in Ontario suffered their largest decline in July in eight and a-half years.
The federal agency says sales in the province were down 6.1 per cent to 24.1-billion dollars -- mainly due to declines in the auto sector.
It says motor vehicle sales were down 20.8 per cent and sales of motor vehicle parts declined 11.5 per cent as the annual auto assembly plant summer shutdowns were longer and more concentrated in July than in previous years.
The agency adds that changes to vehicle models being manufactured in Canada also contributed to the decline.