Sales were down in five of seven subsectors, representing about 82% of total wholesale sales.

The machinery, equipment and supplies, and the building material and supplies subsectors contributed the most to the decline in November, while the motor vehicle and parts subsector posted the largest gain.

In volume terms, wholesale sales decreased 1.2%.

e machinery, equipment and supplies subsector dropped 2.3% to $13.2 billion in November, the second decline in three months. Sales decreased in three of four industries, led by the other machinery, equipment and supplies industry, down 5.8% and more than offsetting the 5.6% gain in October. Meanwhile, sales in the farm, lawn and garden machinery and equipment industry fell for the fourth time in five months, down 4.7% in November.