Manufacturing sales rose 1.7% to $52.2 billion in July, as sales in the motor vehicle parts and motor vehicle assembly industries increased. The gain follows revised increases of 0.7% in May and 1.5% in June. The advance in July mostly reflected a higher volume of goods sold, as constant dollar sales increased 1.1%. Higher sales of motor vehicle parts and motor vehicles were responsible for almost two-thirds of the national increase in July. Gains in food products and fabricated metal products bolstered the advance. Lower sales of primary metals offset a portion of the growth. Sales of motor vehicle parts rose 12.1% ... (full story)