The Canadian Press

Wholesale sales rose three per cent in January to $44.4 billion, their strongest increase in three years.

Statistics Canada reports all sectors were up, but four accounted for 80 per cent of the growth: automotive products; building materials; machinery and electronic equipment, and “other products.”

Sales in the automotive products sector grew 4.8 per cent to $7.8 billion in January, their fourth straight increase.

Wholesale sales of building materials reached $6 billion in January, with the sector’s three trade groups all posting increases.

Higher sales in the building materials sector coincided with an 5.8 per cent increase in housing starts.

The machinery and electronic equipment sector posted a 2.6 per cent increase, reflecting sharply higher sales in the machinery and equipment group.

Sales in the “other products” sector grew 4.1 per cent, largely due to a surge in sales of agricultural chemicals.

Except for Nova Scotia, all provinces posted higher wholesale sales in January.

Saskatchewan led the way with an 18.4 per cent gain.

Wholesale trade inventories declined 1.1 per cent in January to $52.8 billion, their lowest level since December 2006. It was their 11th straight monthly decline. Overall, 11 of the 15 wholesale trade groups reported reduced inventories.