Wholesale Services Price Index (WSPI)

Detailed information for first quarter 2026

The purpose of this survey is to collect and compile data to measure the monthly change in the movement of the price of wholesale services. These prices are combined and chained to form a price index. The estimates are produced on a quarterly basis.

• Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s)
• Description
• Data sources and methodology

Description

The purpose of this survey is to collect and compile data to measure the monthly change in the movement of the price of wholesale services. These prices are combined and chained to form a price index. The estimates are produced on a quarterly basis. These price data are combined to estimate a price index for the wholesale services sector that can be joined with other business service indexes to provide better estimates of real output and productivity, monitor inflation and feed an important research agenda at Statistics Canada.

Statistical activity

These indexes are a part of the Services Producer Price Index program (SPPI) at Statistics Canada.

The SPPI program develops and produces price indexes for a wide range of business service categories. This initiative fills an important data gap in the area of economic statistics and has resulted in a more comprehensive set of service price indexes. It also allows Statistics Canada to produce more accurate estimates of real value added of the Gross Domestic Product and changes in productivity.

Reference period: The time period for which the WSPI equals 100; currently this is the year 2020.

Collection period: Collection takes place during the quarter following the reference quarter.

Subjects

• Prices and price indexes
• Retail and wholesale
• Service price indexes

Data sources and methodology

Target population

The target population consists of all statistical establishments on the Business Register (BR) primarily engaged in wholesaling and that are classified to NAICS 41 - Wholesale Trade under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), excluding Business-to-business electronic markets, agents and brokers.

• Additional documentation

Instrument design

Pricing methodologies and questionnaire design were researched and based on internationally accepted practice. The Wholesale Price Report (survey questionnaire) was developed and tested through consultation and collaboration with merchant wholesalers, industry experts and the Questionnaire Design and Research Centre at Statistics Canada.

The questionnaire, last revised in 2021, is designed to collect information on, among other variables, the average monthly purchase price (amount paid for the acquisition of a given product) and the average monthly selling price (amount received for selling the same product), excluding taxes. Respondents are asked to report (up to) six top-selling products from product categories pre-selected based on product wholesale revenue information collected by the Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS).

Sampling

This is a sample survey with a longitudinal design.

The frame is part of Statistics Canada's Business Register classified to the wholesale sector (NAICS=41, excluding NAICS=419).

SAMPLING UNIT
The sampling unit is establishment. The establishment, as a statistical unit, is defined as the most homogeneous unit of production for which the business maintains accounting records from which it is possible to assemble all the data elements required to compile the full structure of the gross value of production (total sales or shipments, and inventories), the cost of materials and services, and labour and capital used in production.

STRATIFICATION METHOD
The population is stratified by 5-digit NAICS. In order to maximize the usage of AWTS product revenue information while minimizing response burden, the sample is selected to achieve a 60% overlap with AWTS sample. As such, each 5-digit NAICS is further stratified into AWTS vs. non-AWTS groups. Within each 5-digit NAICS × (AWTS vs non-AWTS) group, the largest establishments are selected into the sample with a probability of 100% ("take-all" method). The remaining establishments are selected according to the "take-some" method, where the probability of selection was proportional to the revenue of the establishment for the reference year.

SAMPLING AND SUB-SAMPLING
The sample is allocated to strata by revenue and selected based on probability proportional to size using Sequential Poisson sampling.

Establishments selected for the WSPI survey typically report a maximum of six products from product categories that generate the most wholesale revenue for their business. These product categories were chosen based on product wholesale revenue information reported in the AWTS survey or if this information is not available, on typical business activities conducted in their industry. Product classification is based on the North American Product Classification System (NAPCS) version 2017. Products from each category are chosen based on a judgmental sampling approach. Respondents select products that represent their wholesaling activity and meet the following criteria:
• Is a major annual wholesale revenue generator for their business within the requested product category,
• Is sold regularly throughout the year, and
• Typically generates positive margins (i.e., sold at a higher price than it is purchased).

Data sources

Responding to this survey is mandatory.

Data are collected directly from survey respondents.

Following sample selection, new survey participants (respondents) are introduced to the survey through telephone calls and are set up to complete an initialization questionnaire. During this initial phase of data collection, respondents may be guided through the process of selecting representative products for which prices and their characteristics (specifications) will be monitored. This process typically spans several collection cycles until respondents become conversant with the survey.

In subsequent cycles, monthly data are collected on a quarterly basis via electronic questionnaire, while telephone communication (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) is used for non-response and data follow-up. Several follow-up contacts can be made including sending out a reminder email, fax or letter in order to collect data.

Information about the time it takes respondents to complete the survey questionnaire is collected and monitored closely. Currently, it takes respondents an average of 20 minutes to complete the survey.

View the Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s) .