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February 21, 2017WHOLESALE TRADE, DECEMBER and ANNUAL 2016
DECEMBER
The considerable volatility in sales among the provincial wholesale merchants on a monthly basis does not always provide a clear picture. Year-to-date data, particularly in the last half of the year, provides a clearer measure of sales performance.
On a month-over-month basis (Dec 2016 vs Nov 2016),
- Monthly wholesale merchant sales were up in six provinces and down in four provinces.
- Nova Scotia's wholesale sales (seasonally adjusted) increased 1.3 per cent over November 2016 to $775 million.
- Canadian wholesale merchant sales increased 0.7 per cent over November 2016 to $57.3 billion.
On a year-over-year basis (Dec 2016 vs Dec 2015),
- Wholesale merchant sales were down in three provinces - Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan
- Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted wholesale merchant sales have decreased 6.7 per cent over Dec 2015. A $30 million spike in Machinery and equipment sales in Dec 2015 was not replicated in Dec 2016.
- Canadian wholesale merchant sales increased 2.5 per cent over Dec 2015.
ANNUAL
In Canada 2016, annual wholesale merchant sales increased 3.1 per cent over 2015. This was the seventh consecutive annual increase.
- Wholesale merchant sales are down in four provinces - Newfoundland, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
- A key economic event for the Prairie provinces was the wildfires in Fort McMurray, Alberta. However, wholesale trade related to the rebuilding effort in Alberta has not had an impact in 2016.
- Motor vehicle sales lead the way with the highest gains in dollar terms.
- The food industry wholesale sales have generally increased through 2016.
In Nova Scotia 2016, seasonally adjusted annual wholesale merchant sales increased 1.0 per cent over 2015.
By Sectors
In Nova Scotia, the year-to-date (Jan-Dec 2016 vs Jan-Dec 2015) unadjusted wholesale trade by sectors increasd in Food/beverage/tobacco products (+$168.1 million), Building materials (+$92.8 million) and Misc. wholesalers (+$10.4 million).
There were declines in Machinery, equipment and supplies (-$176.7 million), motor vehicles/parts (-$3.3 million), and Home furnishings (-$6.5).
In percentage terms Nova Scotia unajusted Total wholesale trade increased 0.9% in 2016 over 2015.
- Food and beverage, representing 35% of wholesale trade, increased 5.4% over 2015.
- Building materials, representing 19% of wholesale trade, increased 5.5% over 2015.
- Misc wholesalers, representing 7% of wholesale trade, increased 1.6% over 2015.
- Home furnishings, representing 1% of wholesale trade, decreased 6.5% over 2015
- Motor vehicle and parts, representing 16% of wholesale trade, decreased 0.2% over 2015
- Machinery and equipment, representing 16% of wholesale trade, decreased 10.8% over 2015
Statistics Canada Quotes
"[In December ] Both Nova Scotia (+1.3%) and Prince Edward Island (+8.4%) saw gains that partially offset declines in November"
Did You Know
Employment Growth in Wholesale industry
- In 1930, at the start of the Great Depression 90,564 people were employed in the wholesale industry.
- In 1941, during World War II, the number employed in wholesale increased to 117,471.
- In 2015 the number employed in wholesale had increased to 782,981.
Statistics Canada: CANSIM table 081-0011
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