Wholesale trade, September 2023

Released: 2023-11-15

Wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) rose 0.4% to $83.1 billion in September. Sales increased in four of the seven subsectors, led by the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector and the food, beverage and tobacco subsector. On an annual basis, wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) were 1.6% higher in September compared with the same month one year earlier.

Petroleum products as well as oilseed and grain data continue to be available in data tables but will be excluded from monthly analysis until historical data are available for monthly and annual analysis.

In volume terms, wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) grew 0.5% in September.

Chart 1 
Wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) increase in September

Higher sales in the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector fuel wholesale sales growth in September

Sales in the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector increased for the third consecutive month, up by 2.2% to $14.6 billion in September. Despite sales decreasing in two of the three industry groups, they increased in the motor vehicle industry group (+2.8% to $12.0 billion), contributing to the increase in the subsector. Sales of this industry group reflect the continued growth of imports of motor vehicle parts and of higher imports of passenger cars and light trucks.

The food, beverage and tobacco subsector, up 1.6% to $15.0 billion in September, also contributed to growth in wholesale sales. Two of the four industry groups reported an increase in sales, but it was the significant growth of the food industry group (+2.0% to $13.3 billion) that led the subsector movement, in part as a result of higher prices.

Sales growth was partially offset by a decline in sales in the miscellaneous subsector, down by 2.1% to $10.1 billion. Four of the seven industry groups reported an increase in sales. However, declines in the agricultural supplies (-8.1% to $3.1 billion) and the recyclable material (-10.8% to $1.2 billion) industry groups, following sharp increases in August, led to declined sales for the overall subsector in September.

Sales in Ontario lead provincial gains for the second consecutive month

Growth of wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) was observed in four provinces, led by Ontario, and followed by Quebec and Manitoba.

Wholesale sales in Ontario increased by 1.2% to $44.1 billion in September. Growth in this province was reported in five of the seven subsectors, with the largest increase being in the food, beverage and tobacco subsector (+5.1% to $7.2 billion), followed by the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector (+3.3% to $10.3 billion).

The second-largest provincial growth in sales was in Quebec, up 0.8% to $14.8 billion in September. Higher sales were reported by the miscellaneous subsector (+6.0% to $1.5 billion) and the personal and household goods subsector (+1.2% to $3.1 billion).

Wholesale sales in Manitoba rose 3.8% to $2.0 billion. Growth was observed in four of the seven subsectors, with the largest increase coming from the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector (+15.2% to $441.4 million), followed by the building material and supplies subsector (+9.0% to $306.5 million).

Inventories fall in September

Wholesale inventories (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) fell 1.6% to $126.2 billion in September.

Decreased inventories were reported in four of the seven subsectors, led by the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector (-3.8% to $36.8 billion), followed by the building material and supplies subsector (-4.5% to $22.7 billion).

The inventory-to-sales ratio fell from 1.55 in August to 1.52 in September. This ratio is a measure of the time (in months) required to exhaust inventories if sales were to remain at their current levels.

Wholesale sales rise in the third quarter of 2023

In the third quarter, wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) increased by 1.0% to $247.1 billion, primarily as a result of higher sales in August.

The largest increase in quarterly sales was in the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector, up 7.3% to $43.1 billion, followed by the building material and supplies subsector, up 1.2% to $35.7 billion.

Quarterly sales of the wholesale sector were 1.1% higher in the third quarter when compared with the same quarter of 2022.

Products

The product "Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey: Interactive Tool" (Catalogue number71-607-X) is available online. This product is based on the data published in the tables of the Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey: 20-10-0074-01, 20-10-0076-01 and 20-10-0003-01.

Contact information

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).