Wholesale sales down 0.1 per cent in June, Statistics Canada reports

OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says wholesale sales fell slightly in June after four months of increases, mainly due to a drop in the agricultural supplies industry.

The agency says wholesale sales were down 0.1 per cent in June to $49.9 billion.

Sales were down in four of the five industries within the miscellaneous subsector, although the agricultural supplies industry was by far the largest contributor to the change with a 20.5 per cent decrease.

Excluding the miscellaneous subsector, wholesale sales rose 0.9 per cent in June.

The motor vehicle and parts subsector was up 2.2 per cent, while sales in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector rose by 1.3 per cent in June.

The food, beverage and tobacco subsector was also up 0.3 per cent in June.

In June, seven provinces recorded lower sales, although those losses were largely offset by higher sales in Ontario.