Wholesale trade

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Wholesale sales increased for the fourth time in five months, up 1.4% to $44.4 billion in March. The major contributors to the increase were the machinery, equipment and supplies, and the building materials and supplies subsectors.

In volume terms, wholesale sales were up 2.2% in March.

Canadian wholesalers sell to both the domestic and international markets, and are active importers and exporters. The higher increase in the volume of sales, compared with the current dollar sales gain in March, principally reflects the lower prices paid by wholesalers for imported goods. This was caused, in part, by the appreciation of the Canadian dollar with respect to the US currency during the month.

In March, six of the seven wholesale subsectors, accounting for close to 85% of total sales, posted gains.

The largest increase came in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector, which rose 4.9% to $8.9 billion in March. This was the highest sales level since February 2009. Growth was reported in all four industries in this subsector, most notably in other machinery, equipment and supplies (+7.7%), and computer and communications equipment and supplies (+6.0%).

The building material and supplies subsector continued on its upward trend that began in mid 2009. This subsector increased 1.6% in March, marking a seventh consecutive monthly advance. All three of its component industries showed gains.

The only decrease in March was reported in the personal and household goods subsector (-0.6%), which declined for the third time in four months. This drop was mainly due to lower sales in the pharmaceuticals and pharmacy supplies (-1.8%), and the textile, clothing and footwear (-6.6%) industries.

Wholesale sales up in all provinces

Wholesalers in all provinces reported higher sales in March, with Ontario and Alberta posting the largest increases in dollar terms.

Wholesale sales in Ontario increased for the sixth time in seven months, up 1.2% to $22.7 billion in March. Higher sales in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector contributed to this growth.

In Alberta, sales increased for the fifth consecutive month, up 2.2% to $5.0 billion in March, as a result of higher sales in the machinery, equipment and supplies, and the building materials and supplies subsectors.

In Quebec, sales rose 0.5% following a 2.5% decline in February.

Sales in British Columbia increased for the fifth time in six months, increasing 2.1% in March after falling 5.1% in February.

Inventories down slightly

Wholesale inventories edged down 0.2% following a 0.3% increase in February.

Overall, 16 of the 25 wholesale industries reported lower inventory levels. The largest decreases in dollar terms were in the food, other miscellaneous, new motor vehicle parts and accessories, and the pharmaceuticals and pharmacy supplies industries. Higher inventories were seen in the lumber, millwork, hardware and other building supplies, metal service centres, recyclable material, and the home entertainment equipment and household appliance industries.

The increase in sales, combined with the slight decline in inventories, resulted in the inventory-to-sales ratio falling from 1.17 in February to 1.15 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.

Available on CANSIM: tables 081-0011 to 081-0013.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2401.

The March 2010 issue of Wholesale Trade (63-008-X, free) will soon be available.

Wholesale trade data for April will be released on June 17.

To obtain data or general information, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-877-421-3067; 613-951-3549; wholesaleinfo@statcan.gc.ca). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Steve Chadder (613-951-0303; steve.chadder@statcan.gc.ca), Distributive Trades Division.

Wholesale trade

Wholesale sales increased for the fourth time in five months, up 1.4% to $44.4 billion in March. The major contributors to the increase were the machinery, equipment and supplies, and the building materials and supplies subsectors.

In volume terms, wholesale sales were up 2.2% in March.

Canadian wholesalers sell to both the domestic and international markets, and are active importers and exporters. The higher increase in the volume of sales, compared with the current dollar sales gain in March, principally reflects the lower prices paid by wholesalers for imported goods. This was caused, in part, by the appreciation of the Canadian dollar with respect to the US currency during the month.

In March, six of the seven wholesale subsectors, accounting for close to 85% of total sales, posted gains.

The largest increase came in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector, which rose 4.9% to $8.9 billion in March. This was the highest sales level since February 2009. Growth was reported in all four industries in this subsector, most notably in other machinery, equipment and supplies (+7.7%), and computer and communications equipment and supplies (+6.0%).

The building material and supplies subsector continued on its upward trend that began in mid 2009. This subsector increased 1.6% in March, marking a seventh consecutive monthly advance. All three of its component industries showed gains.

The only decrease in March was reported in the personal and household goods subsector (-0.6%), which declined for the third time in four months. This drop was mainly due to lower sales in the pharmaceuticals and pharmacy supplies (-1.8%), and the textile, clothing and footwear (-6.6%) industries.

Wholesale sales up in all provinces

Wholesalers in all provinces reported higher sales in March, with Ontario and Alberta posting the largest increases in dollar terms.

Wholesale sales in Ontario increased for the sixth time in seven months, up 1.2% to $22.7 billion in March. Higher sales in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector contributed to this growth.

In Alberta, sales increased for the fifth consecutive month, up 2.2% to $5.0 billion in March, as a result of higher sales in the machinery, equipment and supplies, and the building materials and supplies subsectors.

In Quebec, sales rose 0.5% following a 2.5% decline in February.

Sales in British Columbia increased for the fifth time in six months, increasing 2.1% in March after falling 5.1% in February.

Inventories down slightly

Wholesale inventories edged down 0.2% following a 0.3% increase in February.

Overall, 16 of the 25 wholesale industries reported lower inventory levels. The largest decreases in dollar terms were in the food, other miscellaneous, new motor vehicle parts and accessories, and the pharmaceuticals and pharmacy supplies industries. Higher inventories were seen in the lumber, millwork, hardware and other building supplies, metal service centres, recyclable material, and the home entertainment equipment and household appliance industries.

The increase in sales, combined with the slight decline in inventories, resulted in the inventory-to-sales ratio falling from 1.17 in February to 1.15 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.

Available on CANSIM: tables 081-0011 to 081-0013.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2401.

The March 2010 issue of Wholesale Trade (63-008-X, free) will soon be available.

Wholesale trade data for April will be released on June 17.

To obtain data or general information, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-877-421-3067; 613-951-3549; wholesaleinfo@statcan.gc.ca). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Steve Chadder (613-951-0303; steve.chadder@statcan.gc.ca), Distributive Trades Division.