February 19, 2026
Statistics Canada announced that sales by Canadian wholesalers (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) increased 2.0% in December to $86.1 billion, following a decline in November. The rise in sales reflected an increase in sales in the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector. Excluding the automotive subsector, wholesale sales rose 0.6%.
The Federal agency says sales rose in four of seven subsectors, representing about two-thirds of the wholesale sector (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain).
Wholesale sales of motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts and accessories rose 9.3% in December to $14.3 billion, after posting a steep decrease in November. Gains were widespread within the subsector.
In December, five provinces reported higher wholesale sales, led by Ontario and Quebec.
Ontario led the provincial wholesale sales gains in December, rising 3.6% to $44.0 billion. Sales increased in five of the seven subsectors, with the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector (+13.6% to $9.9 billion) leading the gains.
Quebec's increase was the second largest, with provincial sales rising 3.7% to $15.6 billion in December. Sales increased in four out of the seven subsectors, led by the machinery, equipment and supplies (+15.8% to $2.9 billion) and the personal and household goods (+8.5% to $3.6 billion) subsectors.