WELLINGTON: New Zealand seasonally adjusted wholesale sales rose 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter, led by higher sales of pharmaceuticals, stationery, furniture, and cars, official data showed on Friday.

Statistics New Zealand said the data compared with a downwardly revised gain of 0.6 percent in the previous quarter.

The seasonally adjusted value of total wholesale stocks in the three months to Dec. 31 rose 3.4 percent to NZ$9.6 billion ($7.18 billion).

The data is one of the final components of gross domestic product data to be released on March 19.

Copyright Reuters, 2015