Retail sales increased 2.5% to $69.6 billion in December. Sales were up in all nine subsectors and were led by increases at food and beverage retailers and motor vehicle and parts dealers, according to a report release Friday by Statistics Canada.
Core retail sales—which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers—were up 2.5% in December, said the federal agency, adding that in volume terms, retail sales increased 2.5% in December.
“Retail sales were up 2.4% in the fourth quarter of 2024, marking a second consecutive quarterly increase. In volume terms, retail sales increased 1.8% in the fourth quarter,” said the report.
“In 2024, retail sales increased 1.3%, led by gains at motor vehicle and parts dealers. In volume terms, sales were up 0.7% in 2024.”
Following a decrease of 1.0% in November, core retail sales increased 2.5% in December on higher sales at food and beverage retailers (+3.5%). The increase in this subsector was led by gains at supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers), which were up 3.9% in December following a decline of 2.0% in November. Higher receipts at beer, wine and liquor retailers (+3.9%) and specialty food retailers (+2.4%) in December also contributed to the increase at food and beverage retailers, said StatsCan.
Higher sales were also recorded at general merchandise retailers (+3.2%) and clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers (+3.1%) in December, it said.
The federal agency said sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers (+1.9%) were up in December on the strength of higher sales at new car dealers (+2.0%), which posted their third consecutive monthly increase. Sales gains were also recorded at automotive parts, accessories and tire retailers (+4.7%) and used car dealers (+3.2%).
“Sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors (+4.2%) increased in December for a second consecutive month. In volume terms, sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors increased 0.7%,” it said.
“On a seasonally adjusted basis, retail e-commerce sales increased 3.1% to $4.3 billion in December, accounting for 6.1% of total retail trade.
Retail sales in 2024
The report said Canadian retailers finished 2024 with $803.1 billion in sales, up 1.3% from 2023, and increases were observed in five of the nine subsectors. Leading the gain in retail sales in 2024 were higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers (+2.9%), which were driven by gains at new car dealers (+3.7%). The largest decrease in retail sales in 2024 was observed at gasoline stations and fuel vendors (-2.5%), largely the result of lower gasoline prices in 2024 compared with 2023.
“Core retail sales increased 1.3% in 2024, led by higher sales at general merchandise retailers (+3.9%) and health and personal care retailers (+4.6%). Sales were also up at food and beverage retailers (+0.9%) on higher sales at supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers) (+2.0%), which saw gains in seven months in 2024,” noted the federal agency.
Statistics Canada said an advance estimate of retail sales suggests that sales decreased 0.4% in January 2025.
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