Statistics Canada announced that the country's wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) fell 0.6% to $81.9 billion in August.

The Federal agency notes that sales declined in five of the seven subsectors, with the largest declines coming from the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector and the agriculture supplies industry group within the miscellaneous subsector. Wholesale sales were 1.4% lower in August, compared with the same month one year earlier.

Following an increase in July (+1.3% to $14.3 billion), sales in the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector decreased by 1.8% to $14.0 billion in August.

After leading the sector's increase in July, sales in the miscellaneous subsector (-3.9% to $10.1 billion) drove declines in wholesale trade in August. Six of its seven industry groups registered declines, with the agriculture supplies industry group (-5.6% to $3.2 billion) being the largest contributor to the decrease.

In August, six provinces reported experiencing a decline in wholesale sales, with Ontario (-1.4%) leading the way, followed by British Columbia (-1.0%).

 

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