ottawacanadian wholesale trade retreated in february from a record high in the first month of the year led by a fall in foods sales and continued weakness in motor vehicles and parts wholesale sales fell 17 on a seasonally adjusted basis from the month before to 8559 billion canadian dollars the equivalent of 6405 billion statistics canada said monday the decline was slightly steeper than the data agencys advance estimate of a fall of 16 for the month and marked a sharp turnaround from an upwardly revised 61 jump in wholesale transactions recorded for the first month of the year in volume or priceadjusted terms wholesale sales dropped 18 in february the data agency said still on a oneyear basis nominal wholesale sales were 74 higher while transactions on a volume basis were up 21 from a year earlier wholesalersthe largest component of canadas services sectorconnect farmers or manufacturers that produce goods with companies and public institutions that use them they also import goods from other countries and redistribute them within canada five of the seven wholesale sectors tracked by statistics canada posted lower sales in february with motor vehicles parts and accessories down for a third consecutive month to the lowest level since last september on the back of a decline in production and semiconductor shortages the data agency said the food beverage and tobacco products segment notched the first fall in sales since december led by a drop in food sales after a surge the previous two months in preparation for the holidays and the new year the value of wholesale inventories edged up 08 for the month to c13051 billion a third straight monthly increase led by increased stocks of machinery equipment and supplies as well as miscellaneous goods statistics canada is scheduled to release retail sales data for february on friday