WELLINGTON: Seasonally adjusted sales gained 0.7 percent in the three months ended Dec. 31, 2016, from a 1 percent gain in the third quarter, Statistics New Zealand figures show.
Actual wholesale stocks rose 1.6 percent from the fourth quarter of 2015.
In the latest period, four of six wholesale industries recorded gains. Grocery, liquor and tobacco products rose 2 percent, with fruit exports higher than usual for a December quarter, a period which is a non-peak season for fruit exports. Sales of motor vehicles and parts rose 2.2 percent and machinery and equipment sales gained 1.7 percent.
Actual wholesale trade sales of $25.9 billion in the December quarter were up 3.8 percent from the same period in 2015.
The total value of wholesale stocks held at Dec. 31 was $11 billion, up 1.6 percent from a year earlier.
