Statistics Canada says wholesale sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and oilseed and grain, edged up 0.1% to $86 billion in October.
The agency says sales were up in four of the seven subsectors, representing about half of total wholesale sales.
Sales of motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories rose 2.3% to $14.7 billion in October, helped by higher sales of passenger vehicles manufactured abroad, as well as buses and transport trucks.
Wholesale sales of farm products, excluding oilseeds and grains, gained 16.7% in October, helped by increased volumes as well as higher prices.
Sales by miscellaneous wholesalers fell 3.7% to $10.9 billion.
In volume terms, wholesale sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and oilseed and grain, fell 0.7% in October.