Wholesale trade fall led by vehicles

Embargoed until 10:45am – 5 December 2008

Wholesale trade fall led by vehicles

Seasonally adjusted total wholesale trade sales decreased 1.0 percent ($219 million) for the September 2008 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today. This is the largest quarterly decrease in sales since the December 2005 quarter, and is led by the 11.3 percent fall in motor vehicle wholesaling.

The next largest contributors to the quarter's decrease were falls in petroleum product wholesaling, down 6.9 percent, and primary product food wholesaling, down 3.3 percent. Partly offsetting the decrease was a rise in unprocessed primary products wholesaling, up 5.6 percent.

The total wholesale trade sales trend continues to increase, but has shown signs of easing in recent quarters. The average quarterly increase has slowed to 0.7 percent over the last two quarters. This compares with an average quarterly increase of 1.8 percent during 2006 and 2007.

Seasonally adjusted wholesale stocks for the September 2008 quarter increased 2.6 percent ($300 million), following a 6.0 percent rise in the June 2008 quarter.

Dallas Welch (Mrs)
Acting Government Statistician
5 December 2008

ENDS

See also the Hot Off The Press information release Wholesale Trade Survey: September 2008 quarter.

wtsSep08qtralltables1.xls

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Wholesale Trade Survey: September 2008 quarter Highlights

• Seasonally adjusted total wholesale trade sales decreased 1.0 percent • ($219 million).

• The quarterly decrease was led by motor vehicle wholesaling, down • 11.3 percent ($179 million).

• Seasonally adjusted wholesale stocks rose 2.6 percent ($300 million). The total wholesale trade sales trend continues to increase, but at a slower rate in recent quarters.

Attached is information about the statistics released today.

ENDS

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