Statistics Canada reported on Tuesday the wholesale sales rose 0.3 percent m-o-m in February, following an unrevised 0.6 percent m-o-m increase in January.

Economists had forecast an advance of 0.1 percent m-o-m for February.

According to the report, higher sales were recorded in two of seven subsectors, led by the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector (+9.5 percent m-o-m). Excluding this subsector, wholesale sales fell 1.5 percent m-o-m.

At the same time, wholesale inventories edged down 0.1 percent m-o-m in February. Inventories were down in four of seven subsectors, representing about 58 percent of total wholesale inventories.