Wholesale trade: Early indicator, April 2023
Released: 2023-05-26
Given the rapidly evolving economic situation, Statistics Canada is providing an advance estimate of sales in the wholesale trade sector for April. The advance results for April indicate that wholesale sales rose 1.6%. The increase reflects higher sales in the petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons subsector.
This estimate was calculated based on a weighted response rate of 42.6%. The average final response rate to the survey over the 12 months preceding it was 82.1%. As Statistics Canada continues to collect data for the April reference month, this early indicator is subject to a higher revision rate than the regular monthly release.
Advance estimates by subsector:
• Farm products: -11.9%
• Petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons: +8.0%
• Food, beverage and tobacco products: -1.2%
• Personal and household goods: -1.3%
• Motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts and accessories: +7.1%
• Building material and supplies: -1.0%
• Machinery, equipment and supplies: -1.7%
• Miscellaneous goods: -6.0%
Note to readers
Data on petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons merchant wholesalers (NAICS code 412), as well as oilseed and grain merchant wholesalers (NAICS code 41112), are now measured by the Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey.
As with the April 2023 reference month, the month-over-month changes will be calculated by including these two industries.
There are also totals without these two data series to help with historical comparisons.
The percentage change is calculated using seasonally adjusted data in current dollars.
This early indicator is a special product published in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic to provide Canadians with timely information on the wholesale sector. The official estimate of wholesale sales for the month of April, which will be based on a more complete set of survey and administrative data, is scheduled for release on June 16, 2023.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).
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