Wholesalers shook off a disappointing December to start the New Year strong, helped in part by a price driven surge in the sale of agricultural chemicals, according to Statistics Canada.
Sales by Canadian wholesalers rose a healthy 2.6% in January to $44.1 billion, effectively offsetting the 2.6% drop recorded in December.
In January, six of the seven wholesale sectors reported higher sales, led by very strong growth in the other products” sector (+11.4%). The growth in this sector was driven by higher sales of agricultural chemicals, which also benefited from sharply higher prices during the month.
Wholesalers of machinery and electronic equipment (+2.2%), food, beverage and tobacco products (+2.1%) and building materials (+1.7%) were …
