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July 15, 2026WHOLESALE TRADE, MAY 2026 Monthly (May 2026 vs April 2026, seasonally adjusted)
Nova Scotia wholesale trade decreased by 4.6% from April to May, the largest decline among provinces and falling to $1.28 billion. National wholesale trade declined 0.05% to $90.02 billion. Eight provinces reported monthly declines in April, while Ontario and Alberta reported growth.
Year-over-year (May 2026 vs May 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Nova Scotia wholesale trade increased 3.2% in May when compared with the same month last year. Canada's wholesale trade grew 7.4% year-over-year. All provinces reported year-over-year increases in wholesale trade led by Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island.
Year-to-date (January-May 2026 vs January-May 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Nova Scotia's wholesale trade grew 2.0% in the first five months of 2026. National wholesale trade was up 4.0% in January-May 2026, with growth in eight provinces. Saskatchewan reported the strongest growth while Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick reported declines year-to-date.
Food and beverage wholesale represents the largest share of Nova Scotia's reported wholesale trade categories, followed by building materials.
Miscellaneous wholesalers, motor vehicle and parts and machinery & equipment saw the largest year-to-date percentage increase in wholesale trade, while building materials and food/beverage wholesale merchant sales were down.
Trends
Through much of 2025 and into 2026, Nova Scotia's wholesale trade has outpaced the national average.
National wholesale inventories as a share of sales increased in 2025. In May 2026, the inventory-to-sales ratio declined to 1.53.
Note: wholesale trade data excludes petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons as well as oilseed and grain.
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 20-10-0074-01 Wholesale trade, sales (x 1,000); Table 20-10-0076-01 Wholesale trade, inventories (x 1,000)
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