Source: The Canadian Press

Wholesale sales posted their largest increase since January 2010, rising 1.2% to $44.5 billion in August.

Statistics Canada attributes much of the growth to higher sales in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector.

In volume terms, wholesale sales were up 0.9% in August.

Increases were reported in all subsectors, except for the food, beverages, and tobacco products subsector; it dropped 0.9%.

The largest dollar increase came in the machinery, equipment and supplies sub-sector, which climbed 3.2% to $9.4 billion.

The miscellaneous subsector, which includes agricultural supplies, non-agricultural chemicals, paper products, and recycled materials industries, rose 3.4%.

Wholesale sales were up in seven provinces in August, with Ontario and Alberta posting the largest dollar increases.

Wholesale trade inventories fell 0.3% to $52.9 billion in August, their first decrease in five months. Overall, 11 of the 25 wholesale trade industries reported lower inventory levels.