Mar 15, 2024
Building supplies offset wholesale sales growth
Wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) grew 0.1 percent to $82.4 billion in January. Sales increased in three of the seven subsectors, led by the machinery, equipment, and supplies subsector and the personal and household goods subsector. On an annual basis, wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) were two percent lower in January compared with the same month one year earlier.
Sales growth was partially offset by a decline in sales in the building material and supplies subsector, which decreased for a second consecutive month, down 2.9 percent to $11.7 billion month over month and down 4.3 percent year over year. Sales declined in two of the three industry groups, that is, the lumber, millwork, hardware, and other building supplies industry group (-3.8 percent to $5.8 billion) and the metal service centres industry group (-6.4 percent to $2.1 billion).
Wholesale sales increased in five provinces, led by Quebec.
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