Core retail sales fall 0.4% as food and beverage sector sees declines across all store types
Statistics Canada reported that retail sales rose by 0.4 percent in August, reaching $66.6bn. Growth occurred in four of nine subsectors, with motor vehicle and parts dealers showing the strongest gains.
Core retail sales—excluding gasoline stations, fuel vendors, and motor vehicle and parts dealers—fell by 0.4 percent.
In terms of sales volume, retail sales increased by 0.7 percent in August.
Motor vehicle and parts dealers led August's retail sales increase, rising by 3.5 percent. Sales at new car dealers grew by 4.3 percent, followed by a 2.1 percent increase at used car dealers.
Though other motor vehicle dealers saw a slight decline of 0.3 percent, automotive parts, accessories, and tire retailers grew by 0.4 percent, balancing this category.
Gasoline stations and fuel vendors reported a 2.7 percent sales decrease, with volume terms reflecting a 2.1 percent decline.
Following two consecutive months of gains, core retail sales dropped by 0.4 percent in August. This decline was driven mainly by a 1.5 percent decrease at food and beverage retailers, with all store types in this category experiencing lower sales.
Supermarkets and other grocery retailers (excluding convenience stores) led the declines, falling by 1.9 percent. Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers saw a 1.4 percent decrease as well.
In contrast, sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers recorded the largest increase within core retail, rising by 0.9 percent.
Retail sales increased across seven provinces in August, with Ontario recording the largest rise at 0.9 percent, driven by motor vehicle and parts dealers.
The Toronto census metropolitan area (CMA) noted a 0.6 percent sales increase. Quebec’s retail sales rose by 1.0 percent, with Montréal’s CMA up by 1.5 percent.
Alberta posted the most significant provincial decline, with retail sales down by 1.1 percent due to lower sales at food and beverage retailers.
Retail e-commerce sales in August declined by 2.5 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis, totalling $3.9bn and representing 5.9 percent of total retail trade, down slightly from 6.1 percent in July.
Statistics Canada also provided an advance retail sales estimate for September, suggesting a further 0.4 percent increase. This preliminary figure, based on responses from 61.1 percent of surveyed companies, is subject to revision.
