Canadian Footwear Sales Rise

　 Canada's Statistics Bureau said on 17 July that wholesale sales in Canada dropped unexpectedly in April, down second times in 4 months, and was dragged down by lower sales of motor vehicles.

Grocery sales are down 1% to 5 billion 800 million Canadian dollars. Sales of personal and family products rose 1.5% to $7 billion a month, the first increase in 3 months, with sales of textiles, clothing and footwear up 18.8%, while sales of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical supplies rose by 1.2%.

Wholesale sales fell 0.3% to $44 billion 50 million in April ($43 billion). Wholesale sales rose 1.2% in March. In April, wholesale sales rose by 0.4% on a constant dollar exchange rate.

Motor vehicle sales decreased by 3.3% in April, and sales of motor vehicles and parts decreased by 2.5% to 7 billion 150 million yuan.

Sales in 8 provinces in 10 provinces have declined, while Quebec and Manitoba are two provinces with rising sales. Wholesale inventories rose 0.6% to 51 billion 340 million Canadian dollars in April, and the share of inventory and sales increased from 1.16:1 to 1.17:1.