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OTTAWA — Canada’s wholesale sales rose 1.2 per cent to $63.7 billion in May, helped by higher sales of lumber, millwork, hardware and other building supplies, Statistics Canada reported Monday.

It said there were advances in four of the seven subsectors it tracks, but the large motor vehicle and supplies sector fell 2.5 per cent to $11.1 billion, the lowest since December 2016.

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Despite weakness in the auto sector, CIBC economist Royce Mendes wrote that May’s wholesale sales were a positive surprise to the estimate of 0.7 per cent.

“The trifecta of retail, manufacturing and wholesale trade all showing strength will push May GDP even higher than the already healthy estimates heading into today’s number,” Mendes concluded.

Gross domestic product figures for May will be released July 31.

Statistics Canada said May’s wholesale sales were helped by the building material and supplies subsector, which rose 5.0 per cent to $9.7 billion, the third consecutive increase for the industry and the highest sales level since July 2017.