Retail sales reached $72.3 billion in November, an increase of 1.8% compared with the same month one year earlier. Higher sales were recorded in 13 of the 18 commodity classes, reported Statistics Canada on Friday.
In November, the largest monthly increase in dollar terms came from sales of food and beverages, which rose 5.6% compared with the same month in 2024. Sales of packaged food dry goods (+11.0%) led the gains in this commodity class in November 2025, followed by sales of fresh meat and poultry (+11.8%) and cookies, confectionery and snack foods (+8.7%), said the federal agency.
Statistics Canada said retail sales of clothing grew 10.7% in November 2025. The largest gain within this commodity class was for sales of women’s clothing (+13.5%), followed by sales of men’s clothing (+7.8%). Sales of footwear rose 9.2% compared with November 2024.
The largest decline in dollar terms in November 2025 came from sales of motor vehicles (-7.3%). The decrease in this commodity class was driven by lower sales of new motor vehicles (-12.3%). Used motor vehicles posted higher sales in November, increasing 2.5% from the same month in 2024, it added.
“Retail sales of automotive and household fuels declined 1.3% in November. With lower prices seen at the pump, sales of automotive fuels posted a decrease of 3.2% compared with the same month one year earlier,” noted the federal agency.
“The advance estimate provided by the Monthly Retail Trade Survey suggests that unadjusted total retail sales in December increased by 1.9%. Because of its preliminary nature, this figure will be revised.”
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