Source: The Canadian Press

Wholesale sales increased for the fourth time in five months in March, rising 1.4% to $44.4 billion.

Statistics Canada reports the major contributors to the increase were the machinery, equipment and supplies, and the building materials and supplies subsectors.

In volume terms, wholesale sales rose 2.2%.

Six of the seven wholesale subsectors, accounting for close to 85% of total sales, posted gains.

StatsCan says the largest increase came in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector, which rose 4.9% to $8.9 billion in March.

The only decrease in March was reported in the personal and household goods subsector, down 0.6%, its third decline in four months.

Wholesalers in all provinces reported higher sales in March, with Ontario and Alberta posting the largest increases in dollar terms.

Wholesale inventories edged down 0.2% after a 0.3% increase in February.

Overall, 16 of the 25 wholesale industries reported lower inventory levels.