Wholesale sales in Alberta declined by 0.4 per cent in September to $6.9 billion, according to Statistics Canada.

The federal agency reported on Wednesday that sales in the province fell “as a result of lower sales in the machinery, equipment and supplies (-2.9 per cent) and the miscellaneous (-5.2 per cent) subsectors.”

However, on an annual basis, sales were up by 5.2 per cent.

Nationally, wholesale sales dropped for a second straight month, down 0.5 per cent to $63.2 billion in September.

Lower sales were recorded in five of seven subsectors, led by the machinery, equipment and supplies and the personal and household goods subsectors, said StatsCan.

Those five subsectors accounted for 68 per cent of total wholesale sales.

“Following two consecutive monthly gains, sales in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector declined for the second time in 2018, down 2.0 per cent to $13.0 billion in September. Sales declined in three of the four industries, led by the computer and communication equipment and supplies (-3.3 per cent) and the farm, lawn and garden machinery and equipment (-6.4 per cent) industries,” said the federal agency.

“Sales in the personal and household goods subsector declined 1.6 per cent to $9.0 billion, its second decline in five months. Five of six industries reported declines, with a 17.4 per cent decrease in the toiletries, cosmetics and sundries industry contributing the most to the decline in September.

Sales in the food, beverage and tobacco subsector declined 0.7 per cent to $11.9 billion, led by the food industry (-0.6 per cent).

“Sales in the building material and supplies subsector increased 1.5 per cent to $9.5 billion, following a 3.9 per cent decline in August. The lumber, millwork, hardware and other building supplies industry (+3.0 per cent) contributed the most to the gain. Sales in the motor vehicle and parts subsector rose 0.3 per cent to $10.8 billion. All industries posted higher sales, led by the motor vehicle industry (+0.3 per cent).”

StatsCan said wholesale inventories were up 0.6 per cent to $87.3 billion in September, offsetting the 0.6 per cent decrease in August. Increases were recorded in three of seven subsectors in September, which together accounted for 64 per cent of total wholesale inventories.

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