OTTAWA — Strength in the auto sector helped push up Canada's wholesale sales in June by 1.3 per cent to $55.3 billion, Statistics Canada reported Thursday.
That was a bigger month-over-month increase than the 1.0 per cent that was expected, according to Thomson Reuters.
Statistics Canada said five of seven wholesale subsectors posted gains, led by the motor vehicle and parts subsector. The group increased 3.0 per cent to $10.2 billion in June, more than offsetting a drop in May.
Excluding the vehicle and parts subsector, wholesale sales were up 0.9 per cent.
Sales in the personal and household goods subsector rose 2.2 per cent to a record $7.8 billion, following two consecutive declines.
In volume terms, wholesale sales rose 1.1 per cent in June.
Wholesale sales in June increased in seven provinces, led by Ontario and Quebec.
Sales in Ontario rose 1.3 per cent to $27.8 billion in June, its highest level since December 2014. Quebec sales increased 3.1 per cent to $10.0 billion.
Alberta gained 0.8 per cent to $6.7 billion, following six consecutive moves lower.
Manitoba slipped 6.9 per cent lower, while Saskatchewan dropped 1.7 per cent.
Wholesale sales in the second quarter rose 2.1 per cent compared with the first quarter.
