Statistics Canada says wholesale sales, excluding oilseed, grains petroleum, petroleum products and other hydrocarbons, fell 2.8% to $80.5 billion in June.
The agency says a drop in the ‘miscellaneous’ subsector led the decline in June, as it fell 7.3% to $10.3 billion, weighed down by a 19.4% drop in the agricultural products industry group to $3.3 billion.
The machinery, equipment and supplies subsector fell 4.2% to $17.8 billion.
Meanwhile, the motor vehicle, parts and accessories subsector dropped 3.1% to $13.2 billion as the motor vehicles industry group fell 4.3% to $10.6 billion.
In constant dollars, sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grains, fell 3.7% in June.
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.