Statistics Canada announced that the country's wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) rose 0.3% to $85.7 billion in February.

The Federal agency notes that sales increased in two of the seven subsectors, representing 40.3% of total wholesale sales. The largest increase came from the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector (+7.1%). Wholesale sales were 3.3% higher in February compared with the same month one year earlier.

The increase in wholesale sales in February was moderated by a decline in five of the seven subsectors. The motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector (-3.1% to $14.3 billion) posted the largest decrease.

Despite six provinces reporting decreases in wholesale sales in February, an increase in Ontario (the province accounting for 52.1% of total wholesale sales) led to an overall increase at the national level. Gains were recorded in five of the seven subsectors, with the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector (+9.5% to $9.7 billion) posting the largest increase.

Alberta saw the second-largest increase in provincial wholesale sales, rising 1.2% to $9.4 billion in February. The increase was driven by the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector (+7.7% to $3.2 billion).

In contrast, British Columbia (-3.9% to $8.2 billion) saw a decline in wholesale sales in February. Overall, five of the seven subsectors recorded lower sales, led by the building material and supplies subsector (-9.8% to $2.1 billion).

 

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