Wholesale trade grows in latest quarter

Wholesale trade sales rose for the fourth consecutive quarter in March 2017, Stats NZ reported today. Seasonally adjusted total wholesale trade sales rose 2.1 per cent in March, after increasing 1.1 per cent in December and 1.1 per cent in September. "The March quarter's rise in total wholesaling was led by basic material wholesaling," business indicators manager Craig Liken said. "Basic material wholesaling includes agricultural products, petroleum, metal and mineral, and timber wholesaling." When seasonally adjusted, five of the six wholesaling industries rose in March 2017, with machinery and equipment seeing no change in sales values. Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts were up 3.8 per cent to $2.5 billion in the March quarter, when seasonally adjusted. Annually, the wholesale trade for motor vehicles and parts rose 15 per cent. Wholesale stocks of motor vehicles and parts also rose, increasing 8.6 per cent to $1.9 billion. This follows a 0.5 decline in stocks in December and a 0.8 per cent increase in September. Annually, stock values have risen 12 per cent. The actual value of wholesale trade sales was $24.4 billion in the March quarter, up 5.3 per cent, or $1.2 billion, over the last 12 months.