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Wholesale trade sales fall

Wednesday 7 December 2011, 1:49PM

By Statistics New Zealand

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Wholesale trade sales fell for the first time in two years in the September 2011 quarter, but remained at a historically high level, Statistics New Zealand said today. After adjusting for seasonal effects, sales fell 2.2 percent ($459 million) compared with the June 2011 quarter.

"Falls were widespread this quarter, with lower sales for 5 of the 6 wholesale industries," industry and labour statistics manager Louise Holmes-Oliver said.

The biggest fall was for the ‘other goods wholesaling’ industry – down 6.6 percent ($233 million) – reversing its big rise in the June 2011 quarter. Other goods wholesaling includes textile products; clothing and footwear; pharmaceuticals and toiletries; and furniture and floor coverings. "In the June quarter no single sub-industry drove the increase in this industry," said Mrs Holmes-Oliver, "and this time around no single sub-industry led the fall."

Machinery and equipment wholesaling had the second biggest fall, down 4.9 percent ($207 million). Other falls were of less than $75 million.

Basic materials wholesaling was the only industry to record increased sales this quarter, up 2.4 percent ($108 million). Basic materials include agricultural products; minerals, metals and chemicals; and timber and hardware goods.

The trend for total wholesale trade sales rose steadily between the December 2009 and March 2011 quarters but has flattened since then.

The seasonally adjusted value of total wholesale trade stocks was $8.8 billion at the end of September 2011, up 1.2 percent ($106 million) from the end of June 2011. Grocery, liquor, and tobacco product wholesaling contributed most to the increase.

See also:
Wholesale Trade Survey: September 2011 quarter – Information release