NZ wholesale trade sales see lift in March quarter

The grocery, liquor and tobacco wholesale industry showed the largest decrease in sales value.

Four of the six wholesale industries have increased in the three months to March lifting New Zealand’s wholesale trade for the recent quarter.

Seasonally adjusted, sales increased 0.7 per cent in the quarter following a 0.2 per cent decrease in the three months to December, according to data released by Statistics NZ.

The grocery, liquor and tobacco wholesale industry showed the largest decrease in sales value in the latest quarter, showing a 0.4 per cent decline to $32 million.

The biggest increase was in machinery and equipment, showing a 2.2 per cent rise to $118 million. The category includes agricultural and construction machinery, computers, and electrical and electronic goods.

“The machinery and equipment wholesaling industry bounced back after a softer than usual December quarter,” said wholesale trade manager Sue Chapman.

Basic material wholesaling had the second largest increase, up 1.1 per cent to $68 million.

Basic material includes: agricultural supplies, hardware goods, petroleum, timber, and metal and mineral wholesaling.

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