Trade sales rise

Seasonally adjusted total wholesale trade sales rose 1.4 per cent in the June quarter, Statistics New Zealand said yesterday.

The increase was driven by petroleum product wholesaling (up 9.3 per cent) which contributed over half the total rise. The second largest rise was in primary product food wholesaling (up 7.1 per cent), then metal and mineral wholesaling (up 16.6 per cent).

These rises were partly offset by food and grocery product wholesaling (down 1.6 per cent), and motor vehicle wholesaling (down 2.6 per cent).