OTTAWA  - The value of Canadian wholesale trade rose in June for the third month in a row, lifted by higher sales of motor vehicles, data from Statistics Canada showed on Monday.

The 0.7 per cent increase in wholesale trade topped economists' expectations for a rise of 0.1 per cent. May was also revised upward, to 1.9 per cent.

In volume terms, sales rose 0.6 per cent in June.

The motor vehicle and parts industry led the way up, rising 3.1 per cent. Higher sales in the second quarter more than offset a decline in the first quarter.

The personal and household goods sector showed strength for the fifth month in a row with a 2.0 per cent increase.

Of the seven sectors, higher sales were reported for four, which accounted for 68 per cent of wholesale trade.

The Canadian economy probably contracted in the second quarter due to the disruption from the Alberta wildfires in May. The stronger-than-expected wholesale trade figures, however, suggested some underlying momentum in the economy heading into the third quarter, when growth is expected to rebound.

About 12 per cent of wholesale companies surveyed by Statistics Canada said the wildfires had affected them, down from about 14 per cent in May. The machinery, equipment and supplies sector had the largest share of affected companies, as was the case in May.