Wholesale sales up 0.9 per cent in October, Statistics Canada reports

By The Canadian Press

OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says wholesale sales rose 0.9 per cent in October to $49.2 billion, largely because of higher sales in the food industry.

The agency says the October gain followed a decline of 1.5 per cent the previous month.

In volume terms, wholesale sales were up 0.8 per cent in October.

Six of the seven subsectors, representing almost all wholesale sales, posted gains in October.

The biggest gain was in the food, beverage and tobacco subsector, where sales increased 1.2 per cent to $9.6 billion.

The motor vehicle and parts subsector rose 1.0 per cent — its first increase in four months — largely because of gains in the new motor vehicle parts and accessories industry.

Sales in the personal and household goods subsector were up 1.2 per cent in October after two months in a row of declines.

But the miscellaneous subsector posted a sixth consecutive month of lower sales, falling 0.3 per cent in October to its lowest level since November 2010.

Sales were up in eight provinces in October, with Quebec, Saskatchewan and British Columbia accounting for most of the national increase.

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