Wholesale trade, March 2014

Released: 2014-05-20

Following two consecutive monthly gains, wholesale sales decreased 0.4% to $50.5 billion in March. Lower sales were recorded in three of the seven subsectors, which together accounted for 51% of wholesale sales. The motor vehicle and parts subsector recorded the largest decline in March. Excluding this subsector, sales edged up 0.1% to $42.3 billion.

In volume terms, wholesale sales were down 0.2%.

Chart 1 
Wholesale sales decline in March

Lower sales in three subsectors drive decline

The motor vehicle and parts subsector recorded the largest decline in March, falling 3.0% to $8.1 billion, the lowest level since September 2012. The motor vehicle industry (-4.4%) accounted for the decrease. Retail sales of motor vehicle and parts were flat in February.

Sales in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector declined 1.4% to $10.6 billion, a third decrease in four months. The computer and communications equipment and supplies industry (-5.7%) accounted for most of the subsector's decline. Sales in this industry fell to the lowest level in nine months.

Lower sales were also recorded in the personal and household goods subsector, which fell 1.5% to $7.2 billion as a result of lower sales in five of its six industries.

The food, beverage and tobacco subsector rose 1.2% to $10.1 billion, the fifth increase in six months. All of the subsector's industries contributed to the gain, with the largest contribution coming from the food industry (+1.1%).

A fourth consecutive monthly increase was recorded in the miscellaneous subsector, which rose 1.7% to $6.7 billion in March. All but one of the subsector's industries contributed to the increase.

In March, sales rose 0.7% to $7.1 billion in the building material and supplies subsector, the third consecutive monthly increase. This month's level was the highest on record for the subsector.

Sales down in five provinces

In March, lower sales were recorded in five provinces, which together accounted for 60% of wholesale sales. Ontario was the largest contributor to the decline.

Ontario posted the largest decline in dollar terms in March, down 1.5% to $24.0 billion. The decrease was Ontario's third in four months and more than offset the gain in February. The motor vehicle and parts subsector and the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector were the largest contributors to the decline.

Nova Scotia recorded a fifth consecutive monthly decline, with sales falling 4.7% to $0.7 billion, the lowest level since July 2011. The decrease was widespread across subsectors.

Sales in Prince Edward Island decreased 9.2% to $0.1 billion, the lowest level in six months. Lower sales in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector led the decline.

Saskatchewan registered a 3.5% increase as sales rose to $2.1 billion, the highest level since May 2013. The gain was widespread across most subsectors and was led by the miscellaneous subsector.

Sales rose 3.2% to $1.5 billion in Manitoba, the fourth increase in five months.

A third consecutive increase was recorded in Quebec, where sales rose 0.4% to $9.5 billion. The food, beverage and tobacco subsector and the miscellaneous subsector accounted for most of the gain.

Sales in Newfoundland and Labrador grew 4.0% to $0.4 billion on the strength of gains in the food, beverage and tobacco subsector and the miscellaneous subsector.

Inventories rise in March

Inventories recorded a third consecutive gain in March, rising 2.3% to $64.1 billion, the highest level on record. Increases were recorded in five of seven subsectors, accounting for 91% of wholesale inventories.

Chart 2 
Wholesale inventories increase in March

The largest increases in dollar terms were in the motor vehicle and parts subsector (+6.9%) and the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector (+1.7%), the third consecutive gain for both subsectors.

The building material and supplies subsector (+2.8%), the personal and household goods subsector (+1.3%), and the miscellaneous subsector (+0.9%) all recorded their third gain in four months.

The inventory-to-sales ratio rose from 1.24 in February to 1.27 in March. The inventory-to-sales ratio is a measure of the time in months required to exhaust inventories if sales were to remain at their current level.

The March 2014 issue of Wholesale Trade (Catalogue number63-008-X) will soon be available.

Wholesale trade data for April will be released on June 18.

Contact information

For more information, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca).

For analytical information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Elspeth Hazell (613-951-8090; elspeth.hazell@statcan.gc.ca), Manufacturing and Wholesale Trade Division.