Statistics Canada reported the Canadian wholesale trade rose by 0.3 percent m-o-m in December, following a revised 1.1 percent m-o-m decline in the previous month.

Economists had forecast a drop of 0.1 percent m-o-m.

The December gain was led by stronger sales in the motor vehicle and parts (+3.7 percent m-o-m) and the miscellaneous (+2.0 percent m-o-m) subsectors.

Overall, sales were up in four out of seven subsectors, representing 64 percent of wholesale trade, while sales increased in six of the 10 provinces. 

Sales decreased by 0.4 percent in the fourth quarter, recording the first decline following 10 consecutive quarterly gains.

Wholesale trade in Canada grew for the ninth consecutive year, up 3.7 percent, in 2018.