Personal and household goods boost December wholesale sales

Statistics Canada says wholesale sales excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain rose 0.3% to $82.9 billion in December.

The agency says the overall increase came as the personal and household goods subsector saw its largest increase of the year as it rose 4.1% to $12.1 billion in December.

The food, beverage and tobacco subsector also rose 1.9% to $15.1 billion in December.

Meanwhile, sales in the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector fell 2.2% to $14.5 billion.

In volume terms, wholesale sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain, rose 0.2% in December.

Statistics Canada began including the oilseed and grain industry group as well as the petroleum and petroleum products subsector as part of wholesale trade earlier this year, but is excluding the data from its monthly analysis until historical data are available for proper monthly and annual analysis.

The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press is a national news agency headquartered in Toronto and founded in 1917.