LBM wholesale up in first quarter

OTTAWA — Wholesale sales rose 0.8% to $53.9 billion in March after two consecutive monthly declines, reports StatCan. Higher sales were recorded in five of seven sub-sectors, accounting for 66% of total wholesale sales. The lumber, millwork, hardware and other building supplies sub-sector was up 3.0% from February and up a healthy 10.7% year-over-year.