Retail sales across Canada increased 0.4% in both August and September of this year, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada.
The federal statistics agency said that August retail sales rose 0.4% to $66.6 billion.
At the same time, an advance estimate of retail sales suggests that they also increased 0.4% in September of this year.
During August, retail sales increased in four of nine subsectors and were led by increases of motor vehicle and parts dealers.
However, core retail sales that exclude gasoline stations and motor vehicle dealers were down 0.4% in August.
The largest increase in retail sales in August was seen at motor vehicle and parts dealers, which gained 3.5%. Higher sales at new car dealerships (up 4.3%) led the increase.
Those gains were partly offset by lower sales at food and beverage retailers, which declined by 1.5% in August.
Sales at food and beverage retailers were down in all four store types, led by supermarkets and other grocery retailers.
Lower sales were also reported at furniture, home furnishings, electronics and appliances retailers (down 1.4%) during August.
Retail sales increased in seven Canadian provinces in August. The largest provincial increase occurred in Ontario, which gained 0.9%.
Statistics Canada’s preliminary calculation of retail sales in September will be revised moving forward.
