Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS)

Summary of changes

Activity on this program started: 1998

Reference period of change - 2017

Target population - Beginning with reference year 2017, the industry classification is based on North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2017.

Reference period of change - 2014

Reference year 2013 has been revised to reflect the important improvements Statistics Canada made to its methods and processes used to compile its annual economic statistics.

Reference period of change - 2013

Statistics Canada launched the Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP) to provide a more efficient model for producing economic statistics. The main objective was to enhance the economic statistics program so that it remains as robust and flexible as possible while reducing the burden on business respondents. The program changes ensure that Statistics Canada will continue to produce a consistent and coherent set of economic statistics. As well, data users and researchers can more easily combine economic data with information from other sources to undertake their analyses. These changes took effect when data for the reference year 2013 were released.

Target population - Beginning with reference year 2013, the data are classified by industry based on North American Industry Classification System (NAICS 2012).

Reference period of change - 2007

Target population - As of reference year 2007, the classification of this industry is based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2007.

Reference period of change - 2002

Target population - As of reference year 2002, the classification of this industry is based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2002.

Reference period of change - 1998

Changes in concepts, classification and methodology will lead to differences between data from the previous Annual Wholesale and Retail Trade Survey (AWRTS), record number 2433, of which wholesale trade was a part, its predecessors and the Annual Wholesale Trade Survey. Under the previous SIC80-based AWRTS, the determination of inclusion within the wholesale sector was primarily based on the activity in which a company was engaged and the class of customer to which products were sold. Under the NAICS, that determination is based primarily on the material and service, skills and technology used in the "production" of the sale of goods, with "class of customer" a much lesser consideration.