Canadian Wholesale sales increased for a fifth consecutive month in September, rising 0.3% to $48.7 billion. In volume terms, wholesale sales fell 0.5% in September.
The difference between the growth rates expressed in current and constant dollars can be explained by an increase in prices and a decrease in volume. Two subsectors account for most of the increase.
September’s higher sales came mainly from increases in the miscellaneous, and the food, beverages and tobacco products subsectors. These increases were partially offset by decreases in the machinery, equipment and supplies, and the personal and household goods subsectors.
The largest sales increase was reported in the miscellaneous subsector, which rose 3.3% to $6.8 billion in September. The agricultural supplies industry, which accounted for most of this growth, gained 15.5%. Sales in this industry have demonstrated considerable volatility in recent months.
Sales in the food, beverages and tobacco products subsector (+0.6%) rose for the sixth consecutive month. All three component industries reported gains.
