Wholesale trade sales flat in March quarter

Seasonally adjusted wholesale trade sales were virtually flat in the three months to March rising just 0.4 per cent Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) said today.

Eleven of the 16 industries included in the survey of wholesale prices recorded increases in seasonally adjusted sales with the two largest increases recorded in food and grocery products -- up $103 million or 3.1 per cent and machinery and equipment -- up $54m or 5.8 per cent.

Those gains were offset by a $91m or 5.3 per cent fall in primary food product wholesaling.

The small rise in March quarter wholesale trade sales follows a 2.2 per cent increase during the December 2004 quarter and no change in the September quarter.

- NZPA