Key Takeaways

  • Canadian retail sales rose 1.2 per cent to $74.6 billion in August after a July decline.
  • All nine retail subsectors gained, led by motor vehicles, food and beverage, and health and personal care stores.
  • Statistics Canada’s advance estimate indicates retail sales could rise another 0.7 per cent in September.

Canadian retail sales rose 1.2 per cent to $74.6 billion in August, Statistics Canada reported, and an early estimate suggests sales rose again in September.

Sales up across the board

Sales increased in all nine subsectors the agency tracks. Motor vehicle and parts dealers contributed the most to the gain, rising 1.2 per cent on a 1.5 per cent jump at new car dealers. Core retail sales — which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers — rose 1.1 per cent.

Food and beverage retailers posted their first increase in three months, up 1.1 per cent, while health and personal care retailers gained 1.6 per cent. Retail sales also increased 1.2 per cent in volume terms.

Online sales rose 1.1 per cent to $5.6 billion, accounting for 7.6 per cent of total retail trade.

Regionally, sales grew in six provinces. Ontario recorded the largest provincial increase in dollar terms, up 2.2 per cent, and sales in the Toronto census metropolitan area increased 4.0 per cent. Alberta posted the largest provincial decrease, edging down 0.1 per cent.

A further gain expected in September

Statistics Canada's advance estimate points to a further 0.7 per cent increase in September. The figure is an unofficial, early estimate based on responses from 58.5 per cent of surveyed companies and will be revised. The average final response rate over the previous 12 months was 86.8 per cent.

Why it matters

The September estimate is calculated from seasonally adjusted data and expressed in current dollars. Statistics Canada said the early indicator is intended to provide timely information on the retail sector, but cautioned that revisions to seasonally adjusted data can be extensive, particularly for recent months. September retail-trade data are scheduled for release on November 20.

All figures are seasonally adjusted and expressed in current dollars unless otherwise noted.

Sources

Photo: 松林 L / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) — shoppers inside the Toronto Eaton Centre.

Sources