Wholesalers sold $48.8 billion worth of goods and services in February, unchanged from January but 0.8% higher than in February 2012. Excluding the automotive sector, wholesale sales were up 0.4% from February 2012.
In terms of volume, wholesale sales were unchanged in February from January.
Annualized wholesale sales grew in eight provinces. Prince Edward Island (+17.5%) led the way, followed by Alberta (+6.5%) and Saskatchewan (+6.4%). Quebec recorded a 4.5% sales gain over February 2012. Ontario (-3.4%) and New Brunswick (-2.1%) experienced year-over-year loses.
Wholesalers’ inventories in February increased 0.6% from January to $61.6 billion and were up 4.4% from February 2012. The largest monthly increases, in dollar terms, were in the machinery, equipment and supplies industry (+1.2%) and the motor vehicle industry (+1.6%). The inventory-to-sales ratio in February was unchanged from January at 1.26.
Wholesale sales of building materials and supplies were $6.9 billion in February, down 0.1% from January but a 4.2% gain from February 2012. This was the 26th consecutive annualized increase. Inventories were valued at $11.5 billion, down 0.4% from January but a 6.1% gain from February 2012.
Wholesale sales of electrical, plumbing, heating and air-conditioning equipment and supplies stood at $2.2 billion in February, down 0.2% from January and a 1.3% decrease from February 2012. Inventories were valued at $3.1 billion, down 0.3% from January but 2.5% higher than in February 2012.
Wholesale sales of metal service centres were $1.5 billion in February, down 2.7% from January but an increase of 1.0% from February 2012. Inventories were valued at $3.4
billion, down 2.4% from January but a 5.5% increase from February 2012.
Wholesale sales of lumber, millwork, hardware and other building supplies were $3.3 billion in February, up 1.3% from January and a 9.9% increase from February 2012. Inventories were valued at $4.9 billion, up 1.0% from January and a 9.1% increase over February 2012.