In August 2014, the turnover improved in the wholesale trade and business servicesTurnover in the wholesale trade and business services - August 2014

In August 2014, the turnover increased in business support activities (+0.8%), in the wholesale trade, except for motor vehicles and motorcycles (+0.7%), in information and communication (+0.5%) and in transportation and storage (+0.3%). It remained steady in real estate activities (0.0%)

In August, the turnover in the wholesale trade, except for motor vehicles and motorcycles picked up (+0.7%) after a fall in July (–0.8%). It rose in the wholesale of household goods (+1.5%), in the wholesale of other machinery, equipment and supplies (+1.8%), in other specialised wholesale (+0.7%) and in the wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco (+0.6%). By contrast, it slumped in the wholesale of agricultural raw materials and live animals (–4.8%).

Turnover of the wholesale trade, except for motor vehicles and motorcycles went up over the last three months (+0.7%, q-o-q) and over the year, but more slightly (+0.2%, y-o-y).

In August, the turnover of transportation and storage increased slightly (+0.3%) after a decline in July (–1.3%). It climbed in land transport and transport via pipelines (+0.7%), in air transport (+3.0%) and in warehousing and support activities for transportation (+0.4%). On the contrary, it fell in water transport (–3.6%) as well as in postal and courier activities (–2.4%).

The turnover of transportation and storage held almost steady over the last three months (+0.1%, q-o-q). Over the year, it improved (+0.7%, y-o-y).

The turnover in real estate activities remained stable in August (0.0%) after a slight shrink in July (–0.3%). It improved over the last three months (+0.4%, q-o-q) and more substantially over the year (+1.7%, y-o-y).

In August, turnover in information and communication rebounded (+0.5%) after a fall in July (–1.4%). It went up in telecommunications (+1.3%), in publishing activities (+1.9%) and in motion picture, video and television programme production (+1.7%). Conversely, it decreased in programming and broadcasting activities (–3.4%), information service activities (–1.9%) and in computer programming consultancy and related activities (–0.4%).

The turnover of information and communication levelled off over the last three months (+0.1%, q-o-q) but declined over the year (–0.5%, y-o-y).

The turnover in business support activities rose in August (+0.8%) after having been flat in July (0.0%). It climbed in administrative and support service activities (+1.2%), in particular in office administrative, office support and other business support activities (+1.6%), in rental and leasing activities (+0.9%) and in travel agency, tour operator and other reservation service and related activities (+1.6%). The turnover also increased in professional, scientific and technical activities (+0.5%): it rose in architectural and engineering activities (+1.6%) as well as in legal and accounting activities (+1.4%), while it declined in activities of head office (–1.2%).

The turnover in business support activities improved over the last three months (+1.2%, q-o-q) and more substantially over the year (+2.5%, y-o-y).

The change in July was revised by +0.2 point in business support activities. Initially calculated at –0.2%, it was revised at 0.0%. That same month, the change was revised by –0.2 point in real estate activities, by –0.1 point in information and communication and by +0.1 point in the wholesale trade, except for motor vehicles and motorcycles. It remained unchanged in transportation and storage.