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Wholesale sales were up for the fourth straight month in November, rising 1.2 per cent to $45.7-billion.

Statistics Canada attributes the increase largely to higher sales in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector, the miscellaneous subsector, and the food, beverage and tobacco subsector.

In volume terms, wholesale sales were up 1.3 per cent.

The agency reports gains in all subsectors except vehicle and parts.

Excluding vehicle and parts, wholesale sales were up 2.4 per cent.

The largest increase came in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector, where sales rose 4.5 per cent to $9.7-billion in November, their highest level since November 2008.

Sales in the miscellaneous subsector rose 2.9 per cent, while food, beverage and tobacco was up 1.8.

The motor vehicle and parts subsector dropped 4.2 per cent, largely due to a significant decrease in sales in the motor vehicle industry (down 6.8 per cent).

Wholesalers in eight provinces reported higher sales in November. Only wholesalers in Ontario and Nova Scotia were hit with declines.

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