January 21, 2026
Canadian wholesale sales fell 1.8% in November
Statistics Canada announced that sales by Canadian wholesalers (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and oilseed and grain) fell 1.8% in November to $84.4 billion.
The Federal agency says this is the second-largest decline in the past two years. The drop in sales reflected a steep decrease in sales in the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector. Excluding the automotive subsector, wholesale sales rose 0.1%.
Sales fell in four of seven subsectors, representing 44.5% of the wholesale trade sector (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain).
Wholesale sales of motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts and accessories fell 11.5% in November to $12.9 billion. A 3.8% decline in sales by building material and supplies wholesalers also contributed to the overall decrease in wholesale sales. Partially offsetting these declines was an increase in sales in the food, beverage and tobacco subsector, rising 3.1%.