LBM wholesale trade grows in August

OTTAWA — Wholesale sales edged down 0.1% to $55.3 billion in August, according to StatCan. Declines in four subsectors, in particular the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector, accounted for the decrease. Higher sales in the miscellaneous subsector partially offset these declines. In volume terms, wholesale sales decreased 0.5% in August. Sales in the building material and supplies subsector rose 1% to $7.7 billion in August, more than offsetting their decline in July. The lumber, millwork, hardware and other building supplies industry (+3.8%) accounted for the gain in August with its third increase in four months.