Wholesale merchant sales in B.C. edged upward in July, rising 0.1% and bucking the national trend, according to Statistics Canada data released Monday.
B.C. sales rose to $3.96 billion from $3.95 billion, rising alongside Alberta (+1.1%), Saskatchewan (+4.2%) and Manitoba (+0.8%).
Nationally, however, sales fell 0.1% due to declines in both Ontario (-0.2%) and Quebec (-0.9%), dropping for a second consecutive month to $43.9 billion. The decline was due primarily to a 3.2% drop in wholesale motor vehicle and parts sales, the first drop in the industry since April 2010.
Excluding the auto sector, wholesale sales rose 0.6% from a 2.3% increase in food, beverage and tobacco sales, a 6.8% increase in agricultural supplies and a 1% increase in machinery, equipment and supplies.