Wholesalers sold $50.0 billion worth of goods and services in January, up 0.8% from December and 2.4% higher than in January 2013. Excluding the automotive sector, wholesale sales were up 2.6% from January 2013.
In terms of volume, wholesale sales were up 0.4% in January from December.
Annualized wholesale sales grew in seven provinces. Saskatchewan (+11.4%) led the way, followed by Prince Edward Island (+9.4%). The largest decrease occurred in Newfoundland and Labrador (-9.1%). Ontario’s wholesale sales in January were up 2.9% from a year earlier while Quebec’s wholesale sales fell by 2.0% from January 2013.
Wholesalers’ inventories in January increased 1.4% from December to $62.3 billion and were up 1.8% from January 2013. The largest monthly increases, in dollar terms, were accounted for by the machinery, equipment and supplies industry (+2.9%) and the personal and household goods industry (+2.1%). The motor vehicle and parts industry posted a 1.8% increase following four consecutive monthly decreases. The inventory-to-sales ratio was 1.25 in January, up from 1.24 in December. The ratio is a measure of the time in months required to exhaust inventories if sales were to remain at their current level.
Wholesale sales of building materials and supplies were $7.0 billion in January, up 1.6% from December and a 1.3% increase from January 2013. Inventories were valued at $11.6 billion, up 1.2% from December and a 0.9% increase from January 2013.
Wholesale sales of electrical, plumbing, heating and air-conditioning equipment and supplies stood at $2.1 billion in January, up 1.6% from December but a 1.0% decrease from January 2013. Inventories were valued at $3.0 billion, up 0.2% from December but 3.2% lower than in January 2013.
Wholesale sales of metal service centres were $1.6 billion in January, up 3.7% from December and an increase of 2.9% from January 2013. Inventories were valued at $3.5 billion, up 1.2% from December but a 1.2% decrease from January 2013.
Wholesale sales of lumber, millwork, hardware and other building supplies were $3.3 billion in January, up 0.5% from December and a 2.2% increase from January 2013. Inventories were valued at $5.1 billion, up 1.8% from December and a 5.1% increase over January 2013.