Wholesale trade, June 2026

Released: 2026-08-14

Wholesale sales rise in June

Wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) rose 2.8% to $92.5 billion in June, the fourth increase in five months. Sales increased in all seven subsectors. The largest increase came from the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector (+4.8% to $20.1 billion).

Wholesale sales were 9.0% higher in June compared with the same month one year earlier.

In volume terms, wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) rose 1.9% in June to their highest level on record.

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

Wholesale sales rise, led by machinery subsector

Sales in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector rose 4.8% to $20.1 billion in June, the first increase after two months of decline. The increase was driven by the farm, lawn and garden machinery and equipment industry group, which rose 25.9% to $3.1 billion.

In June, higher sales in the agricultural supplies (+8.3% to $3.9 billion) and the recyclable material (+9.3% to $1.7 billion) industry groups generated growth in the miscellaneous subsector, where sales rose 4.7% to $12.5 billion. This was the fourth consecutive increase in sales in the miscellaneous subsector.

Sales in the food, beverage and tobacco subsector rose 2.8% to $16.4 billion in June, reflecting a 3.1% increase in sales in the food industry group, which accounted for nearly all of the gain in the subsector. The increase in sales in the food industry group was linked to higher volumes in June.

Wholesale sales rise, led by Ontario and Quebec

In June, all provinces reported higher sales, led by Ontario and Quebec.

Ontario recorded the fifth consecutive monthly increase in sales, rising 1.7% to $47.9 billion in June. Higher sales in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector (+2.4% to $10.2 billion) and the recyclable material industry group drove the growth.

Quebec posted the second-largest increase in sales in June, rising 3.8% to $16.3 billion. Sales increased in four of the seven subsectors, with the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector (+12.6% to $2.9 billion) reporting the largest increase.

Wholesale inventories increase

Wholesale inventories (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) rose 1.2% to $140.4 billion in June.

Inventories increased in five subsectors in June. The largest increase came from the machinery, equipment, and supplies subsector, increasing 3.9% to $42.9 billion, followed by the building material and supplies subsector, increasing 2.7% to $24.2 billion.

The inventory-to-sales ratio decreased from 1.54 in May to 1.52 in June. This ratio measures the time (in months) required to exhaust inventories if sales remain at current levels.

Sales increase in the second quarter

Wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) increased 4.2% to $272.8 billion in the second quarter of 2026. Sales increased in six of seven subsectors.

The largest increase came from the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector (+6.5% to $45.6 billion).

Wholesale sales were 7.9% higher in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the same quarter of 2025.

In volume terms, wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) rose 2.8% in the second quarter of 2026.

Contact information

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