The Canadian wholesale services price index rose 0.4 percent in the second quarter. The increase was the result of small but widespread margin increases among six of the eight major wholesale sectors.
The largest increase in the second quarter was posted by petroleum and petroleum product merchant wholesalers (+2.4%). Higher margins for gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel more than offset the decrease in the first quarter.
The second largest increase was recorded by wholesalers of building material and supplies (+1.5%). Plumbing, heating and air-conditioning equipment and supplies led the increase (+7.4%), followed closely by paint, glass and wallpaper products (+7.2%).
Margin increases were also reported by wholesalers of personal and household goods (+1%), food, beverage and tobacco products (+1%), motor vehicles, parts and accessories (+0.4%) as well as machinery, equipment and supplies (+0.3%).
Moderating the increase in the WSPI were margin declines by wholesalers of farm products (-6.1%) and miscellaneous products (-1.5%).
Year-over-year, the WSPI rose 1 percent in the second quarter.
Wholesalers of petroleum and petroleum products (+5.4%) posted the largest year-over-year increase in the second quarter. This was the 11th consecutive year-over-year increase for the sector.
The second largest increase was recorded by wholesalers of building material and supplies (+5%), a fifth consecutive year-over-year increase. Higher margins for plumbing, heating and air-conditioning equipment and supplies (+12%), other specialty-line building supplies (+10.8%) and electrical wiring and construction supplies (+8.6%) were behind the increase.
Wholesalers of food, beverage and tobacco products (+4%) also contributed to the year-over-year gain.
Year-over-year margin declines were reported for wholesalers of farm products (-9.5%), machinery, equipment and supplies (-1.2%), motor vehicles and parts (-1%), miscellaneous products (-0.6%) and personal and household goods (-0.1%).
