IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Sales at constant 2012 prices: results for March 2013

Measured in real terms (constant 2012 prices), wholesale trade sales decreased by 0,7% year-on-year in March 2013. Seasonally adjusted wholesale trade sales decreased by 5,8% in March 2013 compared with February 2013. This followed month-on-month changes of -2,1% in February 2013 and 3,5% in January 2013.

Cautionary note:

Note that the Easter weekend fell partly in March and partly in April in 2013, whereas in 2012 it fell in April. This may have adversely affected the performance of wholesale trade in March 2013, which should be taken into account in assessing the decrease of 0,7% year-on-year. There were 19 working days in March 2013 compared with 21 working days in March 2012. The seasonally adjusted decline of 5,8% between February and March 2013 should also be treated with caution. Stats SA's current methodology for the seasonal adjustment of wholesale trade does not adjust for shifts in the timing of Easter, so when Easter is spread over the end of March and the beginning of April, it is advisable to consider the two months together (once the April results become available). If the ""Easter effect"" were to be applied partly to March 2013, the month-on-month seasonally adjusted outcome would reflect a stronger performance than indicated here. Stats SA is working on the rollout of an improved seasonal adjustment methodology (already implemented in retail trade) to all its seasonally adjusted series.

Seasonally adjusted wholesale trade sales decreased by 1,2% in the first quarter of 2013 compared with the previous quarter.

Sales at current prices: results for March 2013

Measured in nominal terms (current prices), wholesale trade sales increased by 4,9% in March 2013 compared with March 2012. The major contributors to this increase were dealers in:

• solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products (16,1% and contributing 3,7 percentage points); and
• food, beverages and tobacco (14,4% and contributing 2,2 percentage points)

Wholesale trade sales increased by 8,2% in the first quarter of 2013 compared with the first quarter of 2012. The major contributors to this increase were dealers in:

• solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products (13,1% and contributing 3,2 percentage points);
• food, beverages and tobacco (12,0% and contributing 1,8 percentage points); and
• 'other' household goods except precious stones (12,6% and contributing 1,3 percentage points).