28 February 2017

2017- n° 59

In December 2016, the turnover fell back in wholesale trade and in information and communication Turnover in the wholesale trade and business services - December 2016

In December 2016, the turnover fell back in the wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (−0.6% after +2.2% in November), in information and communication (−2.9% after +2.3%) and in real estate activities (−2.0% after +5.6%). By contrast, it gathered pace in transportation and storage (+2.0% after +0.2%) and rose slightly in business support (+0.3% after +1.2%).

The turnover in wholesale trade except of motor vehicles and motorcycles fell back in December (−0.6%) after a rebound in November (+2.2%).It shrank for wholesalers of food, beverages and tobacco (−2.6% after +0.8%), wholesalers of other machinery, equipment and supplies (−5.1% after +4.6%) and wholesalers of agricultural raw materials and live animals (−3.8% after +4.5%). By contrast, it accelerated considerably for non specialised wholesalers (+12.6% after +1.9%) and more modestly for other specialised wholesalers (+2.5% after +1.9%).

The turnover in wholesale trade except of motor vehicles and motorcycles rose markedly over the fourth quarter of 2016 (+1.3% q-o-q) and over a year (+1.3% y-o-y).

In December, the turnover in information and communication fell back markedly (−2.9%) after having bounced back in November (+2.3%). It shrank in telecommunications (−5.1%), publishing activities (−4.0%), computer programming, consultancy and related activities (−1.4%) and information service activities (−5.5%). Conversely, it recovered markedly in programming and broadcasting activities (+5.8%).

The turnover in information and communication stagnated over the fourth quarter but rose over a year (+2.6%).

The turnover in real estate activities fell back sharply in December (−2.0%) after a strong rebound in November (+5.6%). However, it rose over the fourth quarter (+2.2%) and over a year (+0.9%).

In December, the turnover in transportation and storage gathered pace (+2.0% after +0.2%). It bounced back abruptly in water transport (+22.0% after −10.0%). It rose in warehousing and support activities for transportation (+1.3%) and in air transport (+3.3%). By contrast, it declined slightly in land transport (−0.7%).

The turnover in transportation and storage increased sharply over the fourth quarter (+2.4%) and over a year (+2.7%).

The turnover in business support activities increase slightly in December (+0.3%) after gathering pacein November (+1.2%).

It slowed down in professional, scientific and technical activities (+0.4% after +1.2% in November). It grew markedly in architectural and engineering activities; technical testing and analysis (+3.6%) and in activities of head offices and management consultancy (+1.1%) whereas it declined strongly in advertising and market research (−4.0%) and other specialised, scientific and technical activities (−5.5%).

The turnover was practically stable in administrative and support service activities (+0.1% after +1.3% in November). It rose in office administrative, office support and other business support (+1.3%) and in services to buildings and landscape activities (+2.0%). By contrast, it decreased in travel agency, tour operator and other reservation service and related activities (−3.6%) and employment activities (−1.3%).

The turnover in business support activities grew sharply over the fourth quarter (+1.4%) and over a year (+2.8%).

The variation in the turnover for November 2016 has been revised downwards by 0.3 points in information and communication and in real estate activities. It has been revised upwards by 0.1 points in transportation and storage. It has remained unchanged in the wholesale trade except of motor vehicles and motorcycles and in business support.