Statistics Canada released wholesale sales figures on Wednesday. Wholesale sales increased 1.9% in April, exceeding expectations for a 0.3% rise, after a 1.0% gain in March. March's figure was revised up from a 0.8% increase.

The increase was driven by higher sales in the motor vehicle and parts subsector. Sales of automobiles and parts jumped 9.3% in April.

Sales in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector rose 1.5% in April, sales construction, forestry, mining, and industrial machinery, equipment and supplies subsector increased 4.8%, while sales in the food, beverage and tobacco subsector declined 2.0%.

Sales rose in four of the seven subsectors.

Inventories climbed by 0.5% in April.