Trade sales rise

Wholesale trade sales rose again in the September 2016 quarter, after rising in the June 2016 quarter. Seasonally adjusted total sales were up one percent in the latest quarter, after rising 1.7 percent in the June 2016 quarter and falling 0.2 percent in the March 2016 quarter. "The September quarter's rise in total wholesaling was led by agriculture products and motor vehicles," business indicators senior manager Neil Kelly said. When adjusted for seasonal effects, five of the six wholesaling industries rose in the September 2016 quarter when compared with the June 2016 quarter. Motor vehicle and motor-vehicle parts were one of the biggest sectors, which were up 3.7 per cent ($87 million), with machinery and equipment up by 1.7 per cent ($79 million). The trend for wholesale trade sales has generally been increasing since late 2009. The actual value of wholesale trade sales was $24.2 billion in the latest quarter, up $564 million (2.4 percent) from the September 2015 quarter.