Wholesale sales declined 0.8% to $62.8 billion in February, the largest downward movement and the second monthly drop since September 2017. Lower sales were recorded in four of seven subsectors, representing 64% of total wholesale sales. The miscellaneous and the motor vehicle and parts subsectors contributed the most to the decline.

In volume terms, wholesale sales decreased 0.9% from January to February.

The miscellaneous subsector reported the largest decline in dollar terms in February, declining 3.7% to $7.7 billion. This was the second decrease in three months, bringing the subsector to its lowest level since December 2016. The agricultural supplies industry recorded the only decline within the miscellaneous subsector, down 16.8% to $1.8 billion. The decrease in February saw the industry fall to its lowest level since November 2014.