Canadian retail sales up 0.7% to $61.8-billion in August; estimate suggests drop in September

Canadian retail sales up 0.7% to $61.8-billion in August; estimate suggests drop in September

Statistics Canada says retail sales rose 0.7 per cent to $61.8-billion in August.

However, the agency says its preliminary estimate for September suggests retail sales fell 0.5 per cent for that month, though it cautioned the figure would be revised.

Retail sales in August rose in six of the 11 subsectors.

Sales at food and beverage stores gained 2.4 per cent for the month, while sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores added 5.0 per cent. Sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers rose 0.6 per cent.

Core retail sales – which exclude gasoline stations and motor vehicle and parts dealers – increased 0.9 per cent.

In volume terms, Statistics Canada says retail sales gained 1.1 per cent in August.