Wholesale sales flat in November at $50.4B, Statistics Canada says

OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says wholesale sales were unchanged in November at $50.4 billion.

The agency says lower sales in five subsectors, representing 63 per cent of wholesale sales, were offset by higher sales in the motor vehicle and parts subsector and the food, beverage and tobacco subsector.

Excluding motor vehicle and parts, where sales rose 2.5 per cent, overall wholesale sales declined 0.5 per cent.

Sales rose 1.2 per cent in the food, beverage and tobacco products subsector, largely because of increases in the food products industry.

The machinery, equipment and supplies subsector had the largest decrease in dollar terms, down 0.8 per cent to $11 billion.

The construction, forestry, mining, and industrial machinery, equipment and supplies industry fell 8.0 per cent and pushed down this subsector overall.

Higher sales were recorded in four provinces, which together account for 57 per cent of wholesale sales in Canada.