OTTAWA -- Statistics Canada says wholesale trade rose 1.0 per cent to $65.1 billion in September, boosted by gains in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector.

The move higher reversed a drop of 1.2 per cent in August.

Economists on average had expected an increase of 0.3 per cent, according to financial markets data firm Refinitiv.

Statistics Canada says the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector reported the largest increase in dollar terms in September as sales rose 4.4 per cent to $13.9 billion.

Sales in the personal and household goods subsector rose 1.0 per cent to $9.6 billion in September.

Wholesale sales increased 0.9 per cent in volume terms.