Statistics Canada announced that Canadian wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) increased 0.3% to $93.1 billion in July.

The federal agency reports that sales increased in three of the seven subsectors, representing about 50% of total wholesale sales. The largest increases came from the building material and supplies subsector (+3.5% to $13.8 billion) and the food, beverage and tobacco subsector (+1.7% to $16.7 billion). Wholesale sales were 7.9% higher on a year-over-year basis.

In July, six provinces reported higher wholesale sales, led by Ontario, followed by British Columbia.

Ontario posted a 1.0% increase in sales to reach $48.7 billion in July. Overall, five of seven subsectors recorded higher sales, led by the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector, which rose 2.7% to $10.9 billion. It was the sixth consecutive increase for this subsector.

British Columbia posted the second-largest increase in provincial wholesale sales in July, rising 4.9% to $9.0 billion. Sales increased in five of seven subsectors, led by the building material and supplies subsector, which rose 24.2% to $2.6 billion.

Offsetting the growth in July was a decline in sales in Quebec (-2.8% to $15.7 billion). The decline was concentrated in the personal and household goods subsector (-11.6% to $3.1 billion).

 

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