Ottawa - Statistics Canada says wholesale sales rose by 1.6 percent in May to $81.1 billion, supported by increased sales in the food, beverage, and tobacco sector  and the machinery, equipment, and supplies group.

The agency says this is the eighth increase in the past ten months, with sales up in five of seven wholesale trade subsectors.

The food, beverage, and tobacco subsector helped  rise by 7.8 percent to $14.7 billion in May, driven by an 8.7 percent gain in the food manufacturing industry.

Sales in the machinery and equipment subsector also  rose by 3.2 percent to $17.0 billion, supported by a 17.2 percent gain in machinery and equipment sales in farm, lawn, and garden, and a 6.5 percent increase in the computer and communications equipment and supplies industry.

Meanwhile, sales of building materials and supplies declined by 4.3 percent to $13.2 billion with a decrease in lumber, millwork, hardware, and other building supplies sales by 8.2 percent.

Total sales in constant dollar terms rose by 1.1 percent in May.