Retail sales decreased 0.6% to $69.4 billion in January. Sales were down in three of nine subsectors and were led by decreases at motor vehicle and parts dealers, according to a report released Friday by Statistics Canada.
Core retail sales—which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers—were down 0.2% in January, said the federal agency, adding that in volume terms, retail sales decreased 1.1% in January.
“The largest decrease in retail sales in January was observed at motor vehicle and parts dealers (-2.6%). The decrease was led by lower sales at new car dealers (-3.2%) and automotive parts, accessories and tire retailers (-2.8%). The largest increase in the motor vehicle and parts dealers subsector came from used car dealers (+1.6%),” explained Statistics Canada.
“Sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors (+3.2%) increased in January for a fourth consecutive month. In volume terms, sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors increased 0.1%.”
Following an increase of 2.7% in December, core retail sales decreased 0.2% in January on lower sales at food and beverage retailers (-2.5%). Sales at food and beverage retailers were down mainly on lower sales at supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers), which fell 3.4% in January. To a lesser extent, beer, wine and liquor retailers (-2.0%) also contributed to the decline, added StatsCan.
“Lower sales were also recorded at sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers (-2.2%) in January. The largest increase in core retail sales in January came from furniture, home furnishings, electronics and appliances retailers (+3.0%).”
On a seasonally adjusted basis, retail e-commerce sales decreased 0.9% to $4.2 billion in January, accounting for 6.1% of total retail trade, noted the federal agency.
“Statistics Canada is providing an advance estimate of retail sales, which suggests that sales decreased 0.4% in February. Owing to its early nature, this figure will be revised. This unofficial estimate was calculated based on responses received from 61.9% of companies surveyed. The average final response rate for the survey over the previous 12 months was 87.9%,” it said.
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