BUSINESS NEWS: Retail Trade Stats - STATSCAN

Retail trade

March 2010

Retail sales increased for a fourth consecutive month in March, rising 2.1% in current dollars to $37.0 billion. Higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers were the main contributor to the gain.

Sales in volume terms increased 2.2% in March. Retail sales have been following an upward trend since the beginning of 2009.
Retail sales rise in March

Sales increased in 8 of 11 retail subsectors in March. The largest contributor to the overall increase was a 3.6% rise at motor vehicle and parts dealers. Within the subsector, the largest increase was a 5.5% rise at other motor vehicle dealers (which sell vehicles such as motor homes, motorcycles and recreational watercraft), followed by a 4.6% gain at automotive parts, accessories and tire stores. Sales rose 3.5% at new car dealers, a second consecutive monthly increase after a period of decline that began in November 2009.

Gasoline stations (+2.3%) registered a sales increase for an 11th consecutive month.

Warmer than usual weather in much of Canada in March likely influenced sales at some types of stores. Sales at building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers increased 6.6%. Strong sales in this store type also benefit from the strength of the Canadian housing market.

Clothing and clothing accessories stores saw their sales increase in March for a fourth consecutive month. The 4.4% rise at this store type was the largest increase since September 2006. Sales rose 9.2% at shoe stores, 3.9% at clothing stores and 2.8% at jewellery, luggage and leather goods stores.

Sales at sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores rose 3.1%. Sales in these store types have risen in three of the previous four months.

Food and beverage stores sales edged down 0.1% in March. Following two months of strong sales at beer, wine and liquor stores, a 4.7% decline in this store type more than offset other increases in this subsector.

Retail sales declined for a second consecutive month at furniture and home furnishing stores, falling 0.9% in March. The past two monthly declines follow seven months of increases.

Sales up in all provinces

Retail sales rose in all provinces in March. Newfoundland and Labrador had the highest growth rate among the provinces in March with a 3.1% rise in sales. This was the third consecutive month where sales were up in the province.

Sales in Quebec (+2.8%) increased for a fifth consecutive month. Sales rose 2.7% in Ontario for a third consecutive monthly increase.

SOURCE: Statistics Canada