Canada’s wholesale sales (ex. petroleum and oilseed/grain) fell -1.2% MoM (revised up from the advance estimate of -1.3% MoM) to $85.4B in August 2025, though were still up +4.3% YoY, with volume sales down -1.3% MoM amid sharp declines in vehicles and food.

• Motor vehicle and parts sales dropped -8.8% MoM to $14.0B, led by a -10.7% fall in the motor vehicle group to $11.1B, reversing gains from earlier in the summer.

• Food, beverage, and tobacco sales decreased -3.8% MoM to $15.6B, mainly on lower food sales (-4.2% to $13.8B), marking one of the largest monthly declines of 2025.

• Offsetting gains came from the miscellaneous subsector (+4.0% MoM to $11.1B), driven by agricultural supplies (+9.1%) and mineral, ore, and precious metals (+17.1%).

• Machinery, equipment, and supplies rose +2.3% MoM to $18.4B, supported by strong farm, lawn, and garden equipment sales (+18.7%).

• Provincial trends: Ontario led the national decline (-2.4% MoM to $43.8B) after three monthly gains, driven by motor vehicles (-8.7%), while Quebec fell -1.0% MoM to $15.3B and Saskatchewan rose +9.6% MoM to $3.9B.

• Inventories increased +0.7% MoM to $134.7B, led by personal and household goods (+5.6%) and miscellaneous (+0.8%).

• The inventory-to-sales ratio rose to 1.58 (from 1.55 in July), reflecting slower turnover as sales softened.