Wholesale sales fell 2.2% to $ 55.8 billion in February after three consecutive increases. The decline in sales was recorded in five of the seven subsectors, representing 66% of total wholesale sales.
In volume terms, wholesale sales fell 1.9%.
The sales decline in five sectors
machinery, equipment and supplies posted the largest decline in dollar terms in February, down 4 8% to $ 11.0 billion and more than offset the 4.1% gain in January. Every industry in the sub-sector recorded a decline in sales, led by the construction, forestry, mining and industrial machinery, equipment and supplies industry (-11.5%). The decrease in exports and imports of industrial machinery, equipment and parts, and sales of machine manufacturers were also recorded in February.
In the motor vehicle and parts, sales fell 3.5% to $ 10.4 billion, their lowest level in three months. The three industries subsector declined, led by the auto industry, down 3.6% to $ 8.0 billion, a second consecutive decline. In February, there was a decline in imports and exports of vehicles and auto parts as well as lower sales by motor vehicle assembly plants.
Following a 2.5% increase in January, sales in the miscellaneous subsector fell 4.0% to $ 7.1 billion. The other miscellaneous industry (-7.7%) and the agricultural supplies industry (-6.1%) contributed downwards.
In the material and sub-sector construction supplies, sales decreased 1.8% to $ 7.6 billion, their lowest level since October 2015. plumbing, heating and conditioning air and supplies electrical industry contributed the most to the decline, down 4.8% to $ 2.3 billion in February.
sub-sector of personal and household goods increased 1.4% to $ 7.9 billion on the strength of gains in pharmaceutical and industrial pharmacy products (+ 2.9 %), after two months of decline for the industry.
down sales in all but one province
lower sales were recorded in nine provinces in February, led by Ontario and Saskatchewan.
Ontario, sales fell for a second consecutive month, down 1.2% to $ 28.6 billion. The motor vehicle and parts, and machinery, equipment and supplies have contributed most to the decrease.
Sales in Saskatchewan fell 12.8% to $ 2.1 billion, their lowest level since August 2014. The declines were widespread across sub-sectors that province, with Deputy -sector variety being the biggest contributor.
In Alberta, sales fell 3.4% to $ 6.2 billion on a general decline across sub-sectors. This second consecutive monthly decline pushed sales in the province at their lowest level since September 2011.
Sales in Quebec declined 1.6% to $ 10.1 billion, after six months rise. Decreases were recorded in most sub-sectors, with the various sub-sector contributing the most to the decline.
After a 3.9% gain in January, sales in British Columbia fell 2.6% to $ 5.5 billion. Hardware and building supplies subsector led the decline.
Sales in Manitoba declined 3.8% to $ 1.4 billion that the various sub-sector and the motor vehicle and parts led the declines.
Sales in the motor vehicles and parts contributed most to the decline in Nova Scotia, down 1.1% to $ 811 million.
Newfoundland and Labrador is the only province with an increase in sales in February. After three consecutive declines, sales in Ontario increased 1.7% to $ 349 million, on the strength of higher sales in the food, beverage and tobacco subsector.
Inventories rise in February
Inventories increased 0.2% to $ 73.2 billion in February. Gains were recorded in three of the seven sub-sectors, which together accounted for 61% of wholesale inventories.
In dollar terms, the largest increase was in machinery, equipment and supplies (+ 0.8%), its second consecutive increase.
personal and household goods subsector (+ 0.2%) recorded a third consecutive gain, while motor vehicle and parts (+ 0.2%) increased for first time in three months.
inventories fell 0.3% in machinery subsector construction supplies, a second consecutive decline.
After reaching their highest levels ever recorded in January, inventories decreased in the food, beverage and tobacco subsector (-0.4%) and the miscellaneous subsector (-0 , 2%).
The ratio of inventories to sales rose from 1.28 in January to 1.31 in February. This ratio is a measure of the time in months required to exhaust inventories if sales were to remain at their current level.
Statistics Canada
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