(Adds details from report)
OTTAWA, Dec 18 (Reuters) - The value of wholesale trade
unexpectedly declined in October, weighed by lower sales in the
food and motor vehicle and parts sectors, data from Statistics
Canada showed on Friday.
Wholesale trade declined 0.6 percent, thwarting economists'
expectations for a gain of 0.1 percent, while September was
revised down to a decline of 0.3 percent from an initially
reported 0.1 percent decrease.
Sales volumes for October also decreased 0.6 percent.
Excluding motor vehicles, total sales fell 0.3 percent.
Sales in the food, beverage and tobacco sector tumbled 3.0
percent, the third decrease in four months. Motor vehicle and
parts sales fell for the fourth month in a row, with the sector
down 2.1 percent.
Wholesale inventories rose 0.5 percent. Gains were seen in
three out of seven subsectors, which accounted for 62 percent of
total inventories. Inventories in motor vehicles and parts rose
3.3 percent to reach their highest level on record.
Canada was in a mild recession in the first half of the year
and although growth resumed in the third quarter, early data has
suggested the fourth quarter got off to a weak start.
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Graphic - wholesale trade http://link.reuters.com/cyr43t
Graphic - Canada economic dashboard http://graphics.thomsonreuters.com/15/sc-canada/index.html
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