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May 20, 2015WHOLESALE TRADE, MARCH 2015 
In March 2015, Nova Scotia's wholesale sales (seasonally adjusted) declined 5.8 % over February 2015 to $694.9 million, and increased 0.3% from March 2014. The wholesale merchants' sales index (Jan 2011=100) declined 6.6 points to 108.2 in March 2015.
In March 2015 Canadian wholesale sales (seasonally adjusted) increased 0.8% from February 2015 to $53.9 billion, and increased 5.6% from March 2014. The wholesale merchants' sale index (Jan2011=100) increased 0.9 points to 115.9.
In March 2015 Nova Scotia, unadjusted year-to-date Food, beverage and tobacco increased 19.9% (+$115.1 million) and kept wholesale trade sales in the black. Building Materials declined 7.0% (-$26.2 million), Motor vehicle and parts sales declined 13.6% (-$41.7 million), and Machinery-Equipment declined 6.4% (-$10.6 million).
Nova Scotia year-to-date sales (unadjusted, Jan-Mar 2015 vs Jan-Mar 2014) increased 2.0% to $1.96 billion. Canada's year-to-date sales (unadjusted) increased 5.7% over the same period last year to $151.2 billion.
Year-to-date growth in the value of Nova Scotia's wholesale trade took a sharp decline in March 2015. This can be attributed to sales performance in Motor Vehicle and Parts trade over several years. The figure illustrates that Motor Vehicle sales March to March performed exceptionally well in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014. A high was reached in March 2013 where the unadjusted sales index peaked at 184.26.
It could be said that Motor Vehicle and Part dealers were the driving force behind Nova Scotia’s wholesale trade growth over this period (2009-2015). In 2015, accumulated trade growth in Motor Vehicle wholesale sales (123.4) declined to match total wholesale trade sales (121.9).
In the meanwhile, a new champion has emerge with Food and Beverage dealer sales providing the lead at 163.98 (2009=100) in March 2015.
Statistics Canada Quote
"In Nova Scotia, sales decreased 5.8% to $695 million, their lowest level since March 2014."
Statistics Canada Cat. No. 63-008-X
CANSIM 081-0011 to 081-0013