29 July 2016

2016- n° 205

In May 2016, the turnover recovered in wholesale trade and increased again in business services Turnover in the wholesale trade and business services - May 2016

In May 2016, the turnover recovered in wholesale trade, except for motor vehicles and motorcycles (+1.2% after −1.6%), in transportation and storage (+2.2% after −1.1%) and in information and communication (+2.1% after −1.2%). It increased again, with a more dynamic growth rate, in business support activities (+3.5%) and in real estate activities (+3.1%).

In Mai 2016, the turnover of the wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles rose (+1.2%) after a decline in April (−1.6%). It recovered sharply for wholesalers on a fee or contract basis (+6.0% after −2.6%) further to the business resumption of central purchasing bodies after the social movements and, to a lesser extent, for wholesalers of food, beverages and tobacco (+2.2% after −2.2%) and other specialised wholesale (+2.2% after −0.4%). By contrast, it decreased sharply for wholesalers of other machinery, equipment and supplies (−7.0% after +1.0%).

The turnover of the wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles sector was virtually stable over the last three months (−0.1%, T/T−1) and year on year (+0.1%, T/T−4).

In May, the turnover of transportation and storage recovered sharply (+2.2%) after two months of decline (−1.1% in April and −2.0% in March). This rebound was directed principally by land transport which resumed its growth sharply (+5.7%) after two months of sluggish activity ( −2.7% in April and −2.3% in March) and to a lesser extent in warehousing and support activities for transportation (+1.5%). By contrast, it fell back strongly in air transport (−9.7% after +0.9%).

The turnover of transportation and storage declined over the last three months (−0.6%) but increased over the year (+0.7%).

The turnover of real estate activities ramped up in May (+3.1% after +1.1% in April). It increased slightly over the last three months (+0.4%, T/T−1) but sharply over the year (+3.7%, T/T−4).

The turnover in information and communication picked up in May (+2.1% after −1.2% in April). In particular, it advanced in computer programming, consultancy and related activities (+4.2%), in information service activities (+8.6%) and in publishing activities (+1.9%).

The turnover increased over the last three months (+1.0%) and strongly over the year (+5.4%).

In May, the turnover of business support activities picked up sharply (+3.5% after +0.9% in April). It soared in administrative and support service activities (+5.0% after −2.1%), buoyed in particular by employment activities (+6.9%), by office administrative, office support and other business support activities (+4.6%), and by rental and leasing activities (+5.2%). The turnover in professional, scientific and technical activities rose also (+2.4%): it grew particularly in architectural and engineering activities (+4.0%), in advertising and market research (+5.1%), in activities of head offices and management consultancy activities (+1.0%) and in legal and accounting activities (+2.1%).

The turnover in business support activities dropped over the last three months (−1.1%, T/T−1) while it rose over the year (+2.5%, T/T−4).

The variation of turnover for April 2016 has been lowered by 0.3 points in the wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles and by 0.2 points in transportation and storage and in information and communication. It has been revised upwards by 0.3 points in real estate activities. It remained unchanged in business support activities. These revisions are due to of raw data and to the updating of the coefficients allowing the correction of seasonal variations and of working days (SA-WDA).