Fall In Wholesale Trade

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31775, 4 September 1968, Page 26

Fall In Wholesale Trade

(N Z Press Association) WELLINGTON, Sept. 3. The value of wholesale trade in the quarter ended June 30 was 2.5 per cent less than in the corresponding period last year, says the Government Statistician (Mr J. V. T. Baker). Turn-over of the firms in the survey this year totalled $355.1m, Mr Baker says in the quarterly survey of wholesale trade made by the Department of Statistics. The value of wholesalers' stocks at June 30 this year was $247.3m, which was 3.3 per cent higher than at the same date last year. The total value of stocks, when adjusted for normal seasonal fluctuations, shows an increase of 2.1 per cent over the value recorded at the end

of March. Stocks then were valued 0.6 per cent down compared with the preceding December quarter. Store type groups which have increased turn-over, since the June quarter last year, include food and drink (up 7.5 per cent): paper and stationery (up 7.7 per cent); general merchants (up 3 per cent); and rubber, leather and canvas goods (up 2.2 per cent).

The most significant decreases in turn-over are by office, printers’ and photographic suppliers (down 21.2

per cent); grain and seeds (down 10.7 per cent); and motor distributors (down 10.5 per cent). Compared with the June quarter last year, groups of firms which have most significantly increased their stocks include food and drink (up 10.3 per cent), and general merchants (up 18 per cent). Stocks have been reduced by the furniture group (down 14.4 per cent); clothing (down 5.8 per cent); and rubber, leather and canvas goods (down 1 per cent).