March 19, 2026
Canadian wholesale sales dropped by 1.0 percent in January
Statistics Canada announced that Canadian wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) fell 1.0% in January, on lower sales by companies in the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector, as well as the mineral, ore and precious metals industry group.
The Federal agency says sales in the motor vehicles and motor vehicles parts and accessories subsector fell 3.9% to $13.5 billion in January. Mineral, ore and precious metal wholesalers reported a 38.3% drop in sales to $941.5 million in January 2026, after rising 85.7% in the previous month. Partially offsetting these declines in January was a 1.6% increase in sales in the food, beverage and tobacco subsector.
Six provinces reported lower wholesale sales in January, led by Ontario and Quebec.
Ontario led the decline in provincial wholesale sales in January, falling 1.7% to $43.1 billion. Quebec recorded the second-largest decline, down 0.9% to $15.5 billion in January. Partially offsetting these declines, British Columbia saw an increase in wholesale sales, up 0.9% to $8.4 billion in January.