Alberta wholesale sales increased 1.8 per cent to $6.9 billion in January, the second gain in six months, says Statistics Canada.

The federal agency said on Thursday that higher sales in the motor vehicle and parts subsector (+7.1 per cent) contributed the most to the increase.

On an annual basis, sales rose by 2.4 per cent in the province.

Nationally, wholesale sales rose 0.6 per cent to $63.5 billion in January, a second consecutive monthly gain. Sales were up in five of seven subsectors, representing 70 per cent of total wholesale sales. The machinery, equipment and supplies and the personal and household goods subsectors led the gains.

“Following two consecutive monthly declines, sales in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector rose 1.9 per cent to $13.3 billion. Higher sales in the computer and communications equipment and supplies industry (+8.5 per cent) in January offset much of the industry’s decline in December (-8.7 per cent),” said StatsCan.

It said wholesale inventories increased for the fifth consecutive month, up 0.4 per cent to $90.7 billion in January. Gains were reported in four of seven subsectors, representing about 49 per cent of total wholesale inventories.

Mario Toneguzzi is a Troy Media business reporter based in Calgary. He writes for Calgary’s Business.

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