The Economics and Statistics Division maintains archives of previous publications for accountability purposes, but makes no updates to keep these documents current with the latest data revisions from Statistics Canada. As a result, information in older documents may not be accurate. Please exercise caution when referring to older documents. For the latest information and historical data, please contact the individual listed to the right.
<--- Return to Archive
For additional information relating to this article, please contact:
February 12, 2021WHOLESALE TRADE,DECEMBER AND ANNUAL 2020 MONTH-OVER-MONTH (seasonally adjusted, Dec 2020 vs Nov 2020)
Nova Scotia's wholesale trade is often volatile from one month to the next. In percentage terms, Nova Scotia wholesale trade increased 2.7 % to $979.1 million. National wholesale trade decreased 1.3 % to $66.5 billion. Three provinces reported monthly increases in wholesale trade, with Prince Edward Island (9.2 %) reporting the largest gain and Newfoundland and Labrador (-5.5 %) reporting the largest decline.
YEAR-OVER-YEAR (seasonally adjusted, Dec 2020 vs Dec 2019)
Nova Scotia wholesale trade increased 9.0 % while national wholesale trade increased 4.8 %.
ANNUAL (seasonally adjusted, 2020 vs 2019)
Nova Scotia's wholesale trade decreased 0.1 % to $10.8 billion in 2020. National wholesale trade decreased 1.0% to $754.0 billion in 2020. Four provinces reported annual increases in wholesale trade, with Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island (3.2 %) reporting the largest gains and Newfoundland and Labrador (-6.8 %) reporting the largest decline.
NOVA SCOTIA SECTORS (seasonally adjusted, 2020 vs 2019)
Nova Scotia total wholesale trade decreased 0.1 % (-$6.8 million). Food, beverage (-2.5%, -$92.1 million) and motor vehicle and parts (-6.0%, $113.5 million) reported the largest declines. Building materials reported the largest increase (+4.7%, $96.6 million).
TRENDS
Nova Scotia's wholesale trade has returned to its previous growth trend after the sharp decline brought about by the pandemic of early 2020. A similar pattern has been observed in Canada's wholesale trade, albeit with greater stability from one month to the next.
Wholesale trade in December was higher than the Feburary pre-pandemic benchmark for all provinces.
Comparing the start (February 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic and December 2020 by province reveals the following. Nova Scotia wholesale trade increased 13.1% and nationally, the increase was 3.0%. The smallest increase was in Alberta (0.3%) and the largest increase was in Saskatchewan (18.3%).
NATIONAL WHOLESALE INVENTORIES (Dec 2020 vs Nov 2020)
Wholesale inventories decreased by 0.6% to $89.6 billion in November 2020.
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 20-10-0074-01 Wholesale trade, sales (x 1,000); 20-10-0076-01 Wholesale trade, inventories (x 1,000)
<--- Return to Archive
