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April 20, 2020WHOLESALE TRADE, FEBRUARY 2020 
The month-over-month index of wholesale trade illustrates the volatility of Nova Scotia seasonally adjusted wholesale trade in comparison to the national index. Year-to-date comparisons are more indicative of economic conditions for such volatile indicators.
In Nova Scotia February 2020, on a seasonally adjusted basis
- month-over-month Wholesale Trade decreased 7.5 per cent $899.8 million over January 2020.
- year-over-year Wholesale Trade increased 6.6 per cent over February 2019.
- year-to-date (Jan-Feb 2020) Wholesale Trade increased 9.0 per cent over Jan-Feb 2019.
In Canada February 2020, on a seasonally adjusted basis
- month-over-month Wholesale Trade increased 0.7 per cent $65.7 billion over January 2020.
- year-over-year Wholesale Trade increased 3.8 per cent over February 2019.
- year-to-date (Jan-Feb 2020) Wholesale Trade increased 3.5 per cent over Jan-Feb 2019.
BY PROVINCE
On a month over month basis (Feb 2020), seasonally adjusted Wholesale Trade was up 0.7 per cent nationally. Five provinces reported monthly increases in wholesale trade, with Newfoundland and Labrador (4.6 per cent) reporting the largest gain in percentage terms. Nova Scotia reported a decline (7.5 per cent) over the previous month. Prince Edward Island reported the largest decline (10.3 per cent) over the previous month.
On a year-over-year basis (Feb 2020 vs Feb 2019), seasonally adjusted Wholesale Trade was up 3.8 per cent nationally. Seven provinces reported year-over-year increases in wholesale trade, with New Brunswick (7.6 per cent) reporting the largest gain in percentage terms. Nova Scotia reported an increase (6.6 per cent) over the previous year. Compared to February 2019 Saskatchewan reported the largest decline (11.1 per cent).
On a year-to-date basis (Jan-Feb 2019 vs Jan-Feb 2020), in Canada seasonally adjusted Wholesale Trade was up 3.5 per cent. Six provinces reported year-to-date increases in wholesale trade, with Prince Edward Island (14.6 per cent) reporting the largest gain in percentage terms. Nova Scotia reported an increase (9.0 per cent) over the same period last year. Compared to Jan-Feb 2019, Newfoundland and Labrador reported the largest decline (8.5 per cent).
NOVA SCOTIA SECTORS
Year-Over-Year
Statistics Canada now releases seasonally adjusted wholesale trade data by sector at the provincial level.
As there has been significant volatility in recent wholesale values for Nova Scotia, Year-over-year comparisons are more indicative of current economic conditions providing indicators that demonstrate the impact of the pandemic compared to the same month last year.
COVID-19 is expected to have large impacts on data starting in March 2020. As year-to-date data could be misleading, year-over-year comparisons are a better indicator of changing economic conditions.
In Nova Scotia (Feb 2020 vs Feb 2019), Total wholesale trade year-over-year increased 6.6 per cent ($56.0 million) over the same month last year.
- Food, beverage with a 34% share of Wholesale Trade increased 11.5 per cent ($31.2 million).
- Motor vehicle and parts with a 17% share increased 5.1 per cent ($7.4 million).
- Building material with a 19% share increased 3.8 per cent ($6.3 million).
- Machinery, equipment with a 16% share increased 4.2 per cent ($6.0 million).
- Miscellaneous wholesalers with a 8% share increased 18.9 per cent ($11.5 million).
- Other wholesalers with a 6% share decreased 11.4 per cent ($6.4 million).
NOVA SCOTIA SECTORS
Year-to-Date
In Nova Scotia (Jan-Feb 2020), Total wholesale trade year-to-date increased 9.0 per cent ($154.5 million) over the same period last year.
- Food, beverage with a 35% share of Wholesale Trade increased 19.0 per cent ($105.9 million).
- Motor vehicle and parts with a 18% share increased 12.0 per cent ($35.6 million).
- Building material with a 18% share increased 3.2 per cent ($10.5 million).
- Machinery, equipment with a 16% share decreased 3.1 per cent ($9.5 million).
- Miscellaneous wholesalers with a 7% share increased 14.0 per cent ($17.0 million).
- Other wholesalers with a 5% share decreased 4.8 per cent ($5.0 million)
STATISTICS CANADA QUOTES
STATISTICS CANADA QUOTES
COVID-19 and railway blockades
"[This month ] Respondents were asked to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 and the railway blockades on their sales and inventories. The top two effects of the disruptions as reported by the companies were 'disruption in transport' and 'raw material.'"
"The disruptions led to an estimated unadjusted drop in wholesale inventories. The inventory-to-sales ratio continued to decline for a third consecutive month."
"One enterprise out of twelve (8.3%) in the wholesale trade sector reported that their activities were affected by COVID-19 only. One enterprise out of nine (11.1%) in the wholesale trade sector reported that they were affected only by the railway blockades."
Reference Tables
20-10-0074-01 Seasonally adjusted Wholesale sales by province
20-10-0074-01 Nova Scotia seasonally adjusted Wholesale trade by NAICS sectors
20-10-0076-01 Canada seasonally adjusted Wholesale Trade Inventory
Citations
Statistics Canada. Table 20-10-0074-01 Wholesale trade, sales (x 1,000)
Statistics Canada. Table 20-10-0076-01 Wholesale Trade Inventories (x 1,000)
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