Wholesalers sold $49.2 billion worth of goods and services in October, up 0.9% from September and 2.2% higher than in October 2011. Excluding the automotive sector, wholesale sales were up 1.0% from October 2011.
In terms of volume, wholesale sales were up 0.8% in October from September.
Annualized wholesale sales grew in seven provinces. Nova Scotia (+8.2%) led the way, followed by Newfoundland and Labrador (+7.0%) and Quebec (+6.0%). Ontario posted a 0.8% sales increase in October 2012 over October 2011. Saskatchewan (-9.8%), Prince Edward Island (-3.0%) and Manitoba (-1.3%) recorded loses.
Wholesalers’ inventories in October increased 0.2% from September to $61.5 billion and were up 7.9% from September 2011. This was the ninth monthly gain in the past ten months. The largest monthly increases, in dollar terms, were in the constriction, forestry, mining and industrial machinery, equipment and supplies industry (+1.2%) and the agricultural supplies industry (+3.9%). The inventory-to-sales ratio declined from 1.26 in September to 1.25 in October.
Wholesale sales of building materials and supplies were $6.9 billion in October, up 0.9% from September and a 4.9% gain from October 2011. This was the 23rd consecutive annualized increase.
Wholesale sales of electrical, plumbing, heating and air-conditioning equipment and supplies stood at $2.2 billion in October, up 1.6% from September and a 0.4% increase from October 2011. Inventories were valued at $3.2 billion, up 0.7% from September and 2.4% higher than in October 2011.
Wholesale sales of metal service centres were $1.6 billion in October, down 0.3% from September but an increase of 9.2% from October 2011. Inventories were valued at $3.2 billion, down 2.1% from September but a 7.7% increase from October 2011.
Wholesale sales of lumber, millwork, hardware and other building supplies were $3.2 billion in October, up 0.9% from September and a 6.2% increase from October 2011. Inventories were valued at $4.8 billion, down 0.1% from September but a 6.5% increase over October 2011.