More and more signs are appearing these days that our economy is more than holding its own, even if in small incremenets.
Figures released Monday by Statistics Canada showed wholesale trade grew 0.7% to $57.3 billion in the last month of 2016, registering its third consecutive monthly gain.
The agency says sales in categories such as machinery, equipment and supplies, as well as building material and supplies were the biggest contributors to the increase.
For calendar 2016, wholesale trade was up 3.1% compared with 2015, marking a seventh straight annual increase.
The report says wholesale sales in December rose in six provinces -- Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, while sales edged down 0.2% in Ontario.
The agency also says wholesale inventories rose by 1.1% in December for a fifth consecutive monthly increase.
