OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says wholesale sales rose 0.9 per cent to $66.2 billion in September, boosted by gains in the food, beverage and tobacco and the personal and household goods subsectors.
Economists on average had expected an increase of 0.4 per cent, according to financial data firm Refinitiv.
Sales in the food, beverage and tobacco subsector increased 3.6 per cent to $12.4 billion as food industry sales rose 4.2 per cent.
Statistics Canada says it was the highest growth for both the subsector and the industry since they each grew 7.7 per cent in March at the start of the pandemic when people were stockpiling in anticipation of lockdowns and food shortages.
The personal and household goods subsector saw sales rise 3.4 per cent to $10.0 billion with a 7.2 per cent gain in the pharmaceutical and pharmacy supplies industry.
In volume terms, Statistics Canada says wholesale sales fell 0.2 per cent.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 17, 2020
