(OTTAWA) Retail sales in Canada rose 1.1% to $63.1 billion in June, boosted by higher sales at gas stations and auto and parts dealers, Statistics Canada said on Friday.
However, the federal agency’s preliminary estimate for July suggests retail sales fell 2.0% for the month, but that number is being revised.
Retail sales had a surprisingly strong month in June, although this was due to higher prices on low volumes, observes Bank of Montreal economist Shelly Kaushik.
The volume of retail sales increased by 0.2% in June.
“Nevertheless, it looks like retail sales will help growth in the second quarter. However, the flash estimate for July points to a weaker start to the third quarter,” said Ms.me Kaushik in a report.
In June, rising prices helped fuel stations’ sales for the month rise 3.9%, even as their sales volumes fell 1.3%.
Meanwhile, sales at auto and parts dealers rose 1.8% in June, boosted by gains of 2.9% for new cars and 1.7% for used cars.
Core retail sales — which exclude gas stations and auto and parts dealers — rose 0.2%.
General stores rose 1.1% in June, while apparel and clothing accessories stores rose 1.8%, helped by a 2.1% increase in apparel stores and a 2.4% increase in jewellery, luggage and leather goods.
Sales at grocery and beverage stores fell 1.1% in June, with sales at supermarkets and other grocery stores down 0.8% and those at beer, wine and liquor stores down 2.9%.
Retail sales rose in seven Canadian provinces in June, including 0.4% in Quebec and 1% in Prince Edward Island. They were flat in New Brunswick, while in Nova Scotia they were down 0.3%.
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