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September 21, 2017WHOLESALE TRADE, JULY 2017 
In Nova Scotia July 2017, on a seasonally adjusted basis month-over-month wholesale sales decreased 3.4 per cent to $839 million. On a year-over-year basis, wholesale sales were 8.2 per cent higher over July 2016. On a year-to-date basis wholesale sales were 10.8% higher than the same period last year.
In Canada July 2017, on a seasonally adjusted basis month-over-month wholesale sales increased 1.5 per cent to $62.4 billion. On a year-over-year basis, wholesale sales were 10.0 per cent higher over July 2016. On a year-to-date basis wholesale sales were 9.1% higher than the same period last year. Sales were up in five of seven subsectors. In Food, beverage and tobacco sales were up 2.4% to $12.2 billion. Building material and supplies increased 4.8 per cent to $9.0 billion.
By Province
In month-over-month seasonally adjusted wholesale sales, Nova Scotia (-3.4%) ranked 9th. Saskatchewan led the way with sales increasing 9.9%. Seven of ten provinces reported positive growth. Sales were down in three provinces.
On a year-over-year basis, Nova Scotia (+8.2%) tied for 8th in percentage growth. Alberta led the way with growth in sales increasing 16.3% over July 2016. British Columbia (+14.9%), New Brunswick (+13.0%) and Saskatchewan (+11.9%) also recorded double digit growth over the same period last year. The other six provinces reported single digit, positive growth in the 5.6% to 9.7% range.
On a year-to-date basis, Nova Scotia (+10.8%) ranked 3rd. Prince Edward Island recorded the highest sales growth at 14.9% and British Columbia (+11.0%) just beat out Nova Scotia, over the same period last year. All ten provinces recorded positive growth with three provinces recording double digit growth. The other provinces reported single digit growth in the range of 5.1% to 9.2%
Nova Scotia Sectors
Statistics Canada now releases seasonally adjusted wholesale trade data by sector at the provincial level. There has been significant volatility in recent wholesale values for Nova Scotia. Year-to-date comparisons are more indicative of economic conditions for volatile indicators and seasonally adjusted wholesale values will also smooth out the indicator.
Year-to-date wholesale sales by sector in Nova Scotia increased by $581 million, or by 10.8 per cent compared to Jan-Jul 2016. The dollar increase was largely accounted for by four subsectors: Food, beverage and tobacco wholesalers (+$365 million); building material and supplies wholesalers (+$131 million), Motor vehicle and parts ($89 million), and Machinery/equipment ($81 million). One subsector had a decline: miscellaneous wholesalers declined $63 million.
Statistics Canada Quotes
[Seasonally adjusted, month-over-month] "sales in Nova Scotia (-3.4%) fell in five of the seven subsectors. The decline was mainly attributable to lower wholesale sales in the motor vehicles and parts (-9.9%) and food, beverage and tobacco (-8.5%) subsectors. The loss was partly offset by an increase in the building material and supplies subsector (+9.8%)."
Statistics Canada: CANSIM table 081-0011
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