Sales at constant 2019 prices: results for August 2023

Measured in real terms (constant 2019 prices), wholesale trade sales increased by 1,4% in August 2023 compared with August 2022.

Seasonally adjusted wholesale trade sales increased by 3,3% in August 2023 compared with July 2023. This followed month-on-month changes of 1,3% in July 2023 and -2,1% in June 2023.

In the three months ended August 2023, seasonally adjusted wholesale trade sales decreased by 1,6% compared with the previous three months.

Sales at current prices: results for August 2023

Measured in nominal terms (current prices), wholesale trade sales increased by 4,0% in August 2023 compared with August 2022. The main positive contributors were dealers in:

·        machinery, equipment and supplies (28,0% and contributing 3,3 percentage points); and

·        ‘other’ goods (24,5% and contributing 1,5 percentage points).

The main negative contributors were dealers in:

·        agricultural raw materials and livestock (-17,6% and contributing -1,3 percentage points); and

·        ‘other’ intermediate products, waste and scrap (-17,7% and contributing -1,1 percentage points).

Wholesale trade sales increased by 0,3% in the three months ended August 2023 compared with the three months ended August 2022. The main positive contributor was dealers in machinery, equipment and supplies (22,0% and contributing 2,7 percentage points).

The main negative contributor was dealers in solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products (-9,1% and contributing -2,7 percentage points).