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April 24, 2017WHOLESALE TRADE, FEBRUARY 2017 
On a seasonally adjusted basis, wholesale sales declined 6.4 per cent to $784.8 million in Nova Scotia in February 2017. On a year-over-year basis wholesale sales were 1.7 per cent lower in Nova Scotia. On a year-to-date basis wholesale sales were 1.5% higher than the same period last year.
Canada's wholesale sales decreased 0.2 per cent in February 2017. Sales were down in four of seven subsectors that account for 54 per cent of total sales. Personal and household goods recorded the largest dollar decline in February, down 1.7% to $8.3 billion. Compared to February 2016, wholesale trade in Canada was up 6.6 per cent. Year-to-date wholesale trade is up 5.5% over the same period last year.
Nova Scotia (-6.4%) ranked 9th in terms of month-over-month (Feb 17 vs Jan 17) percentage growth in wholesale trade. Two provinces had gains for the month while the others, including Nova Scotia, saw declines. On a year-over-year basis, Nova Scotia (-1.7%) ranked 9th in percentage growth. Saskatchewan led the way with 18.3 per cent growth over January 2016. On a year-to-date basis, Nova Scotia (+1.5%) ranked 9th, while Saskatchewan recorded 12.8% growth, closely followed by Newfoundland and Labrador at 12.5%.
By Sectors
Before adjusting for seasonality, wholesale sales in Nova Scotia increased by $23.3 million or 1.7 per cent compared to Jan-Feb 2016. The dollar increase was largely accounted for by the two largest subsectors: food, beverage and tobacco wholesalers (+$17.8 million) and building material and supplies wholesalers (+$32.9 million). Two subsectors had large declines compared to the same period last year; motor vehicle and parts wholesalers (-$21.5 million) and machinery, equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers (-$11.1 million).
Statistics Canada Quotes
"Nova Scotia recorded its first decline in three months, with sales dropping 6.4% to $785 million, mostly offsetting a 7.9% gain in January. Sales were down in most subsectors, led by the motor vehicle and parts subsector."
Statistics Canada: CANSIM table 081-0011
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