Release taken from Statistics Canada

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Wholesalers ended the year on a high note, with the automotive sector providing much of the impetus for the largest monthly gain in over two years.

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Wholesale sales jumped&nbsp ; 2.7% in December to&nbsp ; $42.8&nbsp ; billion, following a 0.3% rise in November. December’s increase was the largest since March&nbsp ; 2004.

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While a solid showing by the automotive sector (+7.5%) was behind much of December’s rise, there were also notable gains in the other products” (mainly agricultural products, chemicals and recycled metals), personal and household goods and building materials sectors. Three sectors registered drops in …