October 24, 2025
Canadian wholesale sales declined 1.2% to $85.4 billion in August
Statistics Canada announced that wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) declined 1.2% to $85.4 billion in August.
The Federal agency notes that sales decreased in three of the seven subsectors, which represent about half of the wholesale sector. The largest decreases came from the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector (-8.8%) and the food, beverage and tobacco subsector (-3.8%). Wholesale sales were 4.3% higher in August compared with the same month one year earlier.
In August, seven provinces reported having lower sales, and Ontario recorded the largest decrease.
After recording three consecutive monthly increases, Ontario posted a decline in sales of 2.4% to $43.8 billion in August. Lower sales were recorded in four of the seven subsectors, with the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector (-8.7% to $9.5 billion) contributing the most to the decrease.
Quebec posted the second-largest decline in sales in August, down 1.0% to $15.3 billion. Sales decreased in three of the seven subsectors, with the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector (-11.2% to $1.9 billion) reporting the largest decline.
In contrast, the largest increase at the provincial level in August came from Saskatchewan, where sales rose 9.6% to $3.9 billion. Higher sales were primarily observed in the miscellaneous subsector (+15.3%), more specifically in the agricultural supplies industry group.