Statistics Canada released wholesale sales figures on Wednesday. Wholesale sales increased 0.8% in March, missing expectations for a 0.9% rise, after a 0.4% decline in February.

The increase was driven by higher sales in the building material and supplies subsector. Sales in the building material and supplies subsector climbed 2.8%.

Sales rose in five of the seven subsectors.

Sales of automobiles and parts were up 0.7% in March.

Inventories climbed by 1.0% in March. It was the 15th consecutive increase.