OTTAWA - Statistics Canada says the value of wholesale sales fell 1.2 per cent in September to $56.0 billion.

Economists had expected a gain of 0.4 per cent from the previous month, according to Thomson Reuters.

The drop follows increases in four of the previous five months.

Statistics Canada says wholesale sales fell in five of the seven subsectors it tracks, led by the machinery, equipment and supplies and the miscellaneous subsectors.

The machinery, equipment and supplies subsector posted the largest drop in dollar terms for the month as it fell 4.0 per cent to $10.9 billion, its lowest level since April. The miscellaneous subsector fell 3.1 per cent to $7.0 billion.

Wholesale sales in volume terms fell 1.5 per cent in September.