28 May 2014
2014- n° 129In March 2014, the turnover decreased in the wholesale trade, but improved in transportation
and storage Turnover in the wholesale trade and business services - March 2014
In March 2014, the turnover increased in transportation and storage (+0.6%). It grew more moderately in real estate activities (+0.3%) and in information and communication (+0.2%). On the opposite, it declined slightly in the wholesale trade, except for motor vehicles and motorcycles (–0.2%). It levelled off in business support activities (–0.1%).
Every index in this issue is in value, seasonally and working day adjusted. The commentary shows evolutions of subsections by decreasing contributions. The contribution of a subsection depends on the extent of the evolution and on its weight.
In March 2014, the turnover increased in transportation and storage (+0.6%). It grew more moderately in real estate activities (+0.3%) and in information and communication (+0.2%). On the opposite, it declined slightly in the wholesale trade, except for motor vehicles and motorcycles (–0.2%). It levelled off in business support activities (–0.1%).
graphiqueGraph1_anglais – Wholesale trade and business services

- Source: INSEE
Slight decrease in the wholesale trade, except for motor vehicles and motorcycles
In March, the turnover declined slightly in the wholesale trade, except for motor vehicles and motorcycles (–0.2%) after a slight improvement in February (+0.3%). It plunged in the wholesale of agricultural raw materials and live animals (–6.4%) and went down in the wholesale of household goods (–1.2%) and in the wholesale of other machinery, equipment and supplies (–0.9%). Conversely, the turnover grew in the other specialised wholesale (+2.4%), in the wholesale of information and communication equipment (+1.3%) and in the wholesale on a fee or contract basis (+0.4%). The turnover of the wholesale trade was almost stable over the last quarter (+0.1%, q-o-q), and decreased very slightly over the year (–0.2%, y-o-y).
Further increase in transportation and storage
In March, the turnover of transportation and storage grew again (+0.6%, after +0.4% in February). It increased in land transport and transport via pipelines (+1.9%) and in warehousing and support activities for transportation (+0.8%). It rised slightly in water transport (+0.2%). By contrast, it fell in postal and courier activities (–5.5%) and in air transport (–1.6%).
The turnover of transportation and storage improved over the last three months (+1.3%, q-o-q), and, to a greater extent, over the year (+2.8%, y-o-y).
Rise in real estate activities
The turnover of real estate activities rose again in March (+0.3% after +0.7% in February). It went up very slightly over the last quarter (+0.2%), and more sharply over the year (+1.2%).
tableauTab1_anglais – Variation of the turnover in the wholesale trade and business services
Change in % | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nace classification | Weight | March/Feb. | Feb./Jan. | q-o-q (1) | y-o-y (2) |
46 Wholesale trade, except for motor vehicles and motorcycles | 1000 | –0.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | –0.2 |
H Transportation and storage | 1000 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 2.8 |
J Information and communication | 1000 | 0.2 | –2.1 | 1.3 | –1.4 |
L Real estate activities | 1000 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1.2 |
M+N Business support activities | 1000 | –0.1 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 1.8 |
M Professional, scientific and technical activities | 579 | –0.6 | 1.6 | –1.1 | 1.0 |
N Administrative and support service activities | 421 | 0.5 | –0.2 | 1.4 | 3.0 |
- (1) Quarter-on-quarter: last three months / three previous months
- (2) Year-on-year: last three months / three same months of previous year
- The codes correspond to different levels of aggregation of the NACE classification.
- Source: INSEE
Slight rebound in information and communication
In March, the turnover recovered slightly in information and communication (+0.2% after –2.1% in February). It increased in publishing activities (+2.1%), in information service activities (+1.6%), in computer programming, consultancy and related activities (+0.3%), in programming and broadcasting activities (+0.8%) as well as in motion picture, video and television programme production (+0.7%). By contrast, the turnover decreased again in telecommunications (–1.1%).
The turnover of information and communication rose over the last quarter (+1.3%, q-o-q), but decreased over the year (–1.4%, y-o-y).
Near-stability in business support activities
In March, the turnover stabilised in business support activities (–0.1%), after an increase in February (+0.8%). The turnover declined in the professional, scientific and technical activities (–0.6%): in particular, it dropped in architectural and engineering activities… (–2.2%) and in legal and accounting activities (–2.5%) but grew in activities of head offices… (+0.6%). Conversely, the turnover in administrative and support service activities rose by 0.5%: it increased in employment activities (+1.5%) and in office administrative, office support and other business support activities (+0.5%) but fell in travel agency, tour operator… (–2.3%).
The turnover held steady over the last quarter (+0.0%, q-o-q) and improved over the year (+1.8%, y-o-y).
Revisions
The change in February was revised by –0.8 point in transportation and storage. Announced at +1.2%, the turnover was revised at 0.4%. It was revised by –0.1 point in real estate activities and by +0.1 point in information and communication. It remained unchanged in the wholesale trade, except for motor vehicles and motorcycles and in business support activities.
tableauTab2_anglais – Variation of the turnover in the wholesale trade and business services
Variation en % | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nace Classification | Weight | March 2014 | March/Feb. | Feb./ Jan. | q-o-q (1) |
46 Wholesale trade, except for motor vehicles and motorcycles | 1000 | 110.7 | –0.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
461 Wholesale on a fee or contract basis | 152 | 116.5 | 0.4 | –1.0 | –0.7 |
462 Wholesale of agricultural raw materials and live animals | 54 | 118.2 | –6.4 | 1.6 | 3.0 |
463 Wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco | 170 | 111.3 | –0.2 | –0.1 | –0.5 |
464 Wholesale of household goods | 207 | 105.8 | –1.2 | 2.2 | 0.3 |
465 Wholesale of information and communication equipment | 61 | 104.7 | 1.3 | –2.7 | 3.7 |
466 Wholesale of other machinery, equipment and supplies | 125 | 113.4 | –0.9 | 1.5 | 0.4 |
467 Other specialised wholesale | 197 | 109.0 | 2.4 | –0.3 | –1.5 |
469 Non specialised wholesale trade | 34 | 110.9 | 0.6 | –0.6 | 3.2 |
H Transportation and storage | 1000 | 109.3 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1.3 |
49 Land transport and transport via pipelines | 407 | 112.6 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 2.1 |
50 Water transport | 73 | 115.3 | 0.2 | 3.0 | 1.1 |
51 Air transport | 91 | 102.9 | –1.6 | –0.7 | –1.7 |
52 Warehousing and support activities for transportation | 360 | 108.7 | 0.8 | –0.2 | 1.6 |
53 Postal and courier activities | 69 | 95.0 | –5.5 | 0.6 | –1.5 |
J Information and communication | 1000 | 102.7 | 0.2 | –2.1 | 1.3 |
58 Publishing activities | 158 | 104.2 | 2.1 | –2.9 | 0.3 |
59 Motion picture, video and television programme production… | 76 | 104.4 | 0.7 | –0.1 | 2.7 |
60 Programming and broadcasting activities | 61 | 105.5 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.0 |
61 Telecommunications | 396 | 91.4 | –1.1 | –4.8 | 1.6 |
62 Computer programming, consultancy and related activities | 251 | 116.0 | 0.3 | –0.1 | 1.5 |
63 Information service activities | 58 | 112.4 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.7 |
L Real estate activities | 1000 | 103.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.2 |
681 Buying and selling of own real estate | 96 | 91.2 | –0.6 | 0.2 | 5.8 |
682 Renting and operating of own or leased real estate | 691 | 104.9 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
683 Real estate activities on a fee or contract basis | 213 | 103.7 | 0.8 | 1.5 | –2.7 |
M+N Business support activities | 1000 | 110.7 | –0.1 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
M Professional, scientific and technical activities | 579 | 110.1 | –0.6 | 1.6 | –1.1 |
69 Legal and accounting activities | 90 | 107.1 | –2.5 | 5.3 | –0.8 |
70 Activities of head offices… | 219 | 116.2 | 0.6 | 0.5 | –0.4 |
71 Architectural and engineering activities… | 151 | 105.9 | –2.2 | 1.0 | –3.4 |
72 Scientific research and development | 26 | 107.5 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 0.3 |
73 Advertising and market research | 68 | 103.6 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.9 |
74 Other professional, scientific and technical activities | 19 | 111.3 | –1.4 | 2.6 | –1.6 |
75 Veterinary activities | 6 | 114.0 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.3 |
N Administrative and support service activities | 421 | 111.6 | 0.5 | –0.2 | 1.4 |
77 Rental and leasing activities | 98 | 110.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
78 Employment activities | 80 | 110.3 | 1.5 | –1.8 | 1.6 |
79 Travel agency, tour operator… | 42 | 101.2 | –2.3 | –1.6 | 1.7 |
80 Security and investigation activities | 21 | 116.1 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.5 |
81 Services to buildings and landscape activities | 50 | 110.9 | 0.9 | –1.0 | 0.5 |
82 Office administrative, office support and other business support activities | 131 | 115.8 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1.8 |
- (1) Quarter-on-quarter: last three months / three previous months.
- Source: INSEE