2026.05.1412:30:00UTC+00Canada’s Wholesale Sales Growth Eases Slightly in March, Signals Mild Cooling in Trade Activity

Canada’s wholesale sector recorded a modest slowdown in March 2026, with sales rising 1.9% month-over-month, down from a 2.0% increase in February 2026. The latest data, updated on 14 May 2026, suggest that while wholesale activity continues to expand, the pace of growth has eased slightly.

On a month-over-month basis, the “actual” figure for March compares the change in sales to February, whereas February’s “previous” reading reflects the change relative to January. The marginal deceleration from 2.0% to 1.9% points to a still-resilient wholesale trade environment, but may hint at emerging headwinds or a normalization following stronger early-year momentum.

For markets and policymakers, the data indicate that wholesale trade remains a positive contributor to Canada’s near-term economic performance, though the softer March reading could prompt closer monitoring of underlying sector trends in the months ahead.