Feb 19 (Reuters) - Canadian wholesale trade decreased by 0.9 percent in December from November, largely due to lower sales of computer and communications equipment and supplies, Statistics Canada said on Tuesday.

The December drop follows an increase of 0.7 percent in November that was mainly the result of gains in that same sector. In volume terms, wholesale sales were down 0.9 percent in December.

On an annual basis, wholesale trade was up by 4.5 percent from the previous year following two consecutive years of 6.6 percent growth.

(Percent changes)

Dec Dec Nov(rev) Nov(prev)

mo/mo yr/yr mo/mo mo/mo

Wholesale trade -0.9 +1.6 +0.7 +0.7

Wholesale trade ex-autos -1.0 +0.4 +0.5 +0.6

Wholesale inventories -0.6 +5.1 -0.6 -0.4

Sectors:

Farm products +2.6 -0.4

Food/beverages 0.0 +0.9

Personal/household -0.7 -2.0

Motor Vehicles and Parts -0.3 +8.2

Building +1.4 +6.6

Machinery/equipment -4.1 +1.3

Misc. -0.6 -5.5

NOTE: Analysts surveyed by Reuters had forecast a decrease of 0.4 percent in December wholesale trade from November. All figures are seasonally adjusted.

(Reporting by Alex Paterson; Editing by Louise Egan)

(louise.egan@thomsonreuters.com; =1 613 235 6745; Reuters Messaging: louise.egan.reuters.com@reuters.net)

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