Wholesale trade declines in December

OTTAWA — Wholesale sales decreased 1.4% to $49.6 billion in December, the lowest level in six months, according to StatCan. Of the seven wholesale subsectors, five, representing 79% of wholesale sales, recorded declines. In volume terms, wholesale sales were down 1.6%. The machinery, equipment and supplies subsector, down 3.5%, recorded the largest decline in dollar terms in December.