Wholesale trade, December 2014

Released: 2015-02-18

Wholesale sales rose 2.5% to $55.4 billion in December. Higher sales were recorded in six of seven subsectors, representing 80% of wholesale sales. The motor vehicle and parts subsector as well as the miscellaneous subsector led the gains.

In volume terms, wholesale sales increased 2.4%.

Chart 1 
Wholesale sales rise in December

Higher sales in six subsectors

The motor vehicle and parts subsector recorded the largest gain in dollar terms in December, rising 5.5% to $10.1 billion. A third consecutive monthly increase in the motor vehicle industry (+9.0%), in part due to a shift in seasonal sales, accounted for most of the gain. December's sales were the highest on record for both this industry and its subsector. Higher exports, imports and manufacturing sales of motor vehicles were also recorded in December.

The miscellaneous subsector recorded higher sales for a fifth consecutive month, rising 6.1% to a record $7.3 billion. The largest contributors to the gain were the agricultural supplies industry (+18.3%) and the chemical (except agricultural) and allied product industry (+7.0%). This was a fourth consecutive monthly gain for both industries. Exports and imports of fertilizer, pesticide and other chemical products rose in December.

Sales in the building material and supplies subsector increased 3.6% to $8.1 billion, more than offsetting the decline in November. This gain was largely attributable to the electrical, plumbing, heating and air-conditioning equipment and supplies industry (+8.5%), which rose for the 9th time in 10 months.

The personal and household goods subsector rose 1.1% to a record high $7.4 billion. All of the subsector's industries contributed to the gain, led by the home furnishings industry (+9.7%).

The machinery, equipment and supplies subsector recorded the sole decline in December, edging down 0.2% to $11.2 billion. A second consecutive decline in the construction, forestry, mining, and industrial machinery, equipment and supplies industry (-3.8%) more than offset a gain in the computer and communications equipment and supplies industry (+2.4%), which rose for the first time in three months.

Sales up in seven provinces

Wholesale sales rose in seven provinces in December, representing 98% of total wholesale sales. Ontario accounted for most of the gain.

Sales in Ontario rose 3.7% to $27.5 billion, the 9th increase in 12 months. Gains were widespread, led by the motor vehicle and parts subsector as well as the building material and supplies subsector.

In British Columbia, sales rose 2.6% to $5.2 billion, led by gains in the miscellaneous subsector and the building material and supplies subsector.

The miscellaneous subsector was also a large contributor to the gains recorded in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. In Saskatchewan, sales increased 3.7% to $2.4 billion, a fifth consecutive increase. In Manitoba, sales rose 3.3% to $1.5 billion, offsetting the decline posted in November.

Nova Scotia recorded a third consecutive monthly increase, rising 5.6% to $818 million. Gains were widespread across subsectors.

Sales in Alberta remained relatively flat for the sixth consecutive month, edging up 0.3% to $7.2 billion.

Inventories rise in December

Inventories rose for a 12th consecutive month in December, up 1.0% to $69.1 billion. Increases were recorded in six of seven subsectors, accounting for 87% of wholesale inventories.

Chart 2 
Wholesale inventories increase in December

The largest increase in dollar terms was in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector (+1.4%). December's gain was the 10th in 12 months for both this subsector and the miscellaneous subsector (+1.3%).

Inventories increased for the 10th consecutive month in the building materials and supplies subsector (+1.4%) as well as the food, beverage and tobacco subsector (+1.2%).

Following three consecutive monthly gains, inventories declined 0.8% in the motor vehicle and parts subsector.

The inventory-to-sales ratio decreased from 1.26 in November to 1.25 in December. 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.

Widespread growth in wholesale sales in 2014

On an annual basis, wholesale sales totalled $633 billion in 2014, up 6.4% from the previous year. This increase exceeded the annual gains recorded in both 2012 (+4.3%) and 2013 (+1.3%).

Wholesale sales showed an upward trend throughout 2014.

All of the seven wholesale trade subsectors covered by the Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey recorded higher annual sales in 2014. The building material and supplies subsector and the motor vehicle and parts subsector recorded the largest increases in dollar terms. The smallest subsector, farm products, recorded the largest annual gain in percentage terms.

Every province recorded higher sales in 2014. Ontario, which accounted for approximately half of wholesale sales, contributed the most to the overall gain in dollar terms.

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

Wholesale trade data for January will be released on March 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.