March Quarter Wholesale Activity Increases

Wholesale Trade Survey: March 2002 quarter

March Quarter Wholesale Activity Increases

Seasonally adjusted wholesale sales for the March 2002 quarter increased 0.9 percent, compared with the December 2001 quarter, according to latest figures from Statistics New Zealand. This follows a decrease of 0.3 percent in the December 2001 quarter and no change in the September 2001 quarter.

Food and grocery products (up $206 million), and building materials and supplies wholesaling (up $137 million) had the largest increases in seasonally adjusted sales in the March 2002 quarter compared with the December 2001 quarter. These increases were partly offset by primary product foods (down $192 million) and machinery and equipment wholesaling (down $77 million).

Seasonally adjusted stocks for the March 2002 quarter increased by 5.7 percent compared with the December 2001 quarter. Seasonally adjusted stocks have been increasing since the June 1999 quarter, with the exception of the June 2001 quarter, which remained unchanged.

Brian Pink Government Statistician END

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