(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.
Posted on 08/19
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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