Canada Wholesale Trade Expected to Fall in May

Canada’s wholesale trade is estimated to have declined 0.7% month-over-month in May 2026, reversing a 0.6% increase in the previous month. The anticipated decrease partially reflects lower sales in machinery, equipment and supplies.

Wholesale sales in Canada expanded by 0.6% from the previous month to C$89.3 billion in April of 2026, revised higher from the preliminary estimate of a 0.1% growth rate, to reflect the third consecutive increase in the sector. The figure excludes wholesale sales of petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons, which surged 7.2% on the period due to the higher prices for fuel as the continuation of the war in the Middle East shut off energy exports from the region. Sales were firmly higher for building materials and supplies (4.3% to C$12.7 billion), miscellaneous goods (1.4% to C$11.5 billion), motor vehicles and parts (0.9% to C$14.7 billion), and personal and household goods (0.5% to C$13.2 billion). In turn, sales fell for food and beverage (-1.4% to C$16.2 billion) and machinery and equipment (-1.2% to $19.3 billion).

Canada’s wholesale trade is estimated to have edged up 0.1% month-over-month in April 2026, following a 1.9% increase in the previous month. The anticipated gain partly reflected stronger sales in the building material and supplies subsector.