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Retail sales fell by 0.3% in August to $35.9 billion. Lower sales in the automotive sector more than offset higher sales in five of the seven other sectors of the retail trade industry. Excluding the entire automotive sector, retail sales in the other seven sectors combined rose by 0.4%.
On the whole, price changes had little effect as retail sales in volume terms also declined by 0.3% in August. This was the third decrease in four months.
Much of the 1.8% sales decline reported by the automotive sector in August was largely attributable to a 3.7% drop in sales at gasoline stations.
Sales by gasoline stations fell for the first time since September 2007. During that period of strong price-influenced increases, sales at gasoline stations rose by 27.0%.
New car dealers saw their sales fall for a seventh consecutive month. According to the New Motor Vehicle Sales Survey, the number of vehicles sold has been on a downward trend in recent months. August marked the 14th straight month in which the purchase and leasing prices for automotive vehicles declined year over year, according to the Consumer Price Index.
Used and recreational motor vehicle and parts dealers saw robust sales in August, the third increase in four months.
Note to readersTotal retail sales in volume are measured by deflating values in current dollars of the various trade groups using consumer price indexes. This retail sales in chained dollars series (2002) is based on a chain Fisher volume index with 2002 as the reference year. |
Aside from the decline in the automotive sector, sales at clothing and accessories stores (-0.9%) declined for a second consecutive month in August. Sales in this sector have increased only slightly since mid-2007.
Of the five sectors that registered sales increases in August, the two highest were in the general merchandise stores and the food and beverage stores sectors. For the latter sector, the largest rise came from supermarkets where sales increased for the fifth time since the beginning of 2008.
Little change in sales in most provinces
British Columbia posted the largest decline in retail sales among the provinces, falling 0.9% in August. Following a long period of growth that lasted for over four years, sales in British Columbia have remained relatively flat since the end of 2007.
Retailers in Quebec and New Brunswick posted lower sales after four consecutive monthly increases.
Sales changed very little in the other provinces in August.
It is now possible to consult the tables of raw data by industry and by province and territory from the By subject module of our website.
For information on related indicators, refer to the Latest statistics page on our website.
Available on CANSIM: tables 080-0014 to 080-0017.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers, including related surveys, 2406 and 2408.
The August 2008 issue of Retail Trade (63-005-XWE, free) will be available shortly.
Data on retail trade for September will be released on November 25.
For more information, or to order data, contact Client Services (613-951-3549; toll-free 1-877-421-3067; retailinfo@statcan.gc.ca). For analytical information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Claude Bilodeau (613-951-1816), Distributive Trades Division.
Table(s).
