Wholesale trade, February 2026

Released: 2026-04-15

Wholesale sales increase in February

Wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) rose 2.0% to $86.8 billion in February. Sales increased in five of the seven subsectors, representing 85.4% of total wholesale sales. The largest increases came from the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector (+6.1% to $14.4 billion) and the food, beverage and tobacco subsector (+2.9% to $16.5 billion). Wholesale sales were 1.2% higher in February 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 1.1% in February.

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

Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories lead the gains

Sales in the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector rose 6.1% to $14.4 billion in February, as supply chain challenges eased, the largest increase among subsectors. This increase was driven by sales in all three industry groups, led by the motor vehicle industry group (+7.3% to $11.4 billion).

The food, beverage and tobacco subsector posted the next-largest increase in February, with sales rising 2.9% to $16.5 billion. Sales increased in three out of four of its industry groups, with the food industry group (+2.7% to $14.6 billion) recording the largest gain in dollar terms. The increase in sales for the subsector was driven by higher volumes.

Sales of personal and household goods rose 2.5% in February to their highest level on record of $13.2 billion. Sales in the subsector rose for a third time in four months and were 6.8% higher than in February 2025. The increase in February 2026 reflected higher sales in the pharmaceuticals and pharmacy supplies industry.

The increase in wholesale sales in February was moderated by a decline in the miscellaneous subsector (-0.6% to $10.9 billion). This decline was driven by the mineral, ore and precious metal industry group (-19.4% to $733.4 million), its fourth decline in the past five months.

Ontario and Quebec lead provincial wholesale sales gains

In February, seven provinces recorded higher sales, led by Ontario and followed by Quebec.

Ontario posted the largest increase in sales, rising 2.8% to $44.2 billion in February. Higher sales were recorded in five of the seven subsectors, with the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector (+9.7% to $10.0 billion) driving the increase.

Quebec posted the second-largest increase in provincial wholesale sales in February, rising 3.3% to $16.1 billion. Sales increased in six of the seven subsectors, with the food, beverage and tobacco subsector (+9.1% to $3.8 billion) reporting the largest increase.

Decline in wholesale inventories

Wholesale inventories (excluding petroleum, petroleum products and other hydrocarbons and oilseed and grain) were down 0.3% to $135.4 billion in February.

Inventories decreased in five out of the seven subsectors in February. The largest decrease occurred in the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector (-2.4% to $17.6 billion), followed by the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector (-0.6% to $40.3 billion).

The inventory-to-sales ratio decreased from 1.60 to 1.56 in February. This ratio measures the time (in months) required to exhaust inventories if sales were to remain at their current levels.

Contact information

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