Canadian wholesale sales rose +2.0% MoM (+2.1% volumes) in December, rebounding after prior decline.

• Automotive wholesale sales increased +9.3% MoM to $14.3B but were -0.2% YoY, indicating a production recovery after earlier semiconductor shortages while remaining near year-ago levels.

• Excluding autos, wholesale sales rose +0.6% MoM, showing broader but more modest gains across the sector.

• Miscellaneous wholesalers increased +6.8% MoM, with mineral, ore and precious metals surging +85.6% to a record $1.5B amid strong prices and demand.

• Food, beverage and tobacco sales fell -3.4% MoM to $15.7B but were +3.7% YoY, suggesting short-term weakness within an ongoing annual uptrend.

• Provincial sales rose in five provinces, led by Ontario +3.6% (autos +13.6%) and Quebec +3.7% (machinery +15.8%), while Alberta declined -1.6% due mainly to building materials -6.5%.

• Wholesale inventories rose +0.6% to $136.8B and the inventory-to-sales ratio declined to 1.59 (from 1.61), indicating inventories grew more slowly than sales.

• For 2025 overall, wholesale sales increased +2.9% YoY to $1.024T, with gains across all subsectors led by food, beverage and tobacco +6.1%.