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May 2010 (Previous release)

Retail sales edged down 0.2% in current dollars to $36.0 billion in May, as lower sales were reported in 6 of 11 subsectors.

Sales in volume terms increased 0.4%. Retail sales have been following an upward trend since the beginning of 2009.

The largest decrease in dollar terms was a 4.1% decline at building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers. Monthly sales levels at this store type have fluctuated substantially in recent months.

Gasoline stations sales were down 2.3%, as prices fell at the pump. This was the second consecutive monthly sales decline at gasoline stations, following increases the previous 11 months.

Sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers decreased 0.5% in May. Within this subsector, a 0.4% increase at new car dealers did not fully offset declines at used car dealers (-2.6%) and automotive parts, accessories and tire stores (-9.1%).

In the five subsectors that registered higher sales in May, the largest percentage increase was at clothing and clothing accessories stores (+2.6%).

Food and beverage stores sales increased 0.9% in May. All industries within this sub-sector recorded sales increases.

After declining for three consecutive months, sales rose 0.8% at furniture and home furnishing stores.

Sales down in five provinces

Sales were down in five provinces in May. The 1.8% decline in sales in Quebec reflected a lower volume of new motor vehicles sold, as reported by the New Motor Vehicles Sales Survey.

Retail sales were down in all Atlantic provinces except New Brunswick (+1.2%).

British Columbia (+1.5%) posted the largest increase in retail sales, reflecting in part higher sales at new car dealers.

Sales in Ontario edged up 0.1% in May.

Table 1

Retail sales by province and territory

Table 1

Retail sales by province and territory
	May 2009	April 2010^r	May 2010^p	April to May 2010	May 2009 to May 2010
	Seasonally adjusted
	$ millions			% change
Canada	34,221	36,093	36,015	-0.2	5.2
Newfoundland and Labrador	593	615	605	-1.7	2.1
Prince Edward Island	138	149	146	-2.2	5.5
Nova Scotia	1,004	1,064	1,046	-1.7	4.2
New Brunswick	829	864	874	1.2	5.5
Quebec	7,697	8,178	8,032	-1.8	4.4
Ontario	12,210	12,905	12,913	0.1	5.8
Manitoba	1,219	1,288	1,295	0.6	6.3
Saskatchewan	1,205	1,226	1,223	-0.3	1.4
Alberta	4,656	4,863	4,862	0.0	4.4
British Columbia	4,545	4,812	4,885	1.5	7.5
Yukon	43	46	46	0.4	8.9
Northwest Territories	57	56	59	5.5	3.4
Nunavut	27	27	27	0.2	2.6

revised

preliminary

Note(s):

Figures may not add up to total due to rounding.

Table 2

Retail sales by industry

Table 2

Retail sales by industry
	May 2009	April 2010^r	May 2010^p	April to May 2010	May 2009 to May 2010
	Seasonally adjusted
	$ millions			% change
Total retail trade	34,221	36,093	36,015	-0.2	5.2
Total excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers	26,978	28,423	28,383	-0.1	5.2
Total excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers and gasoline stations	23,628	24,491	24,542	0.2	3.9
Motor vehicle and parts dealers	7,243	7,670	7,632	-0.5	5.4
New car dealers	5,718	6,086	6,109	0.4	6.9
Used car dealers	481	462	450	-2.6	-6.4
Other motor vehicle dealers	546	566	569	0.4	4.2
Automotive parts, accessories and tire stores	499	555	504	-9.1	1.0
Furniture and home furnishing stores	1,192	1,250	1,260	0.8	5.7
Furniture stores	771	797	802	0.5	4.0
Home furnishings stores	421	453	459	1.2	8.9
Electronics and appliance stores	1,125	1,133	1,130	-0.3	0.4
Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers	2,270	2,426	2,326	-4.1	2.5
Food and beverage stores	8,399	8,597	8,671	0.9	3.2
Supermarkets and other grocery (except convenience) stores	5,993	6,115	6,171	0.9	3.0
Convenience stores	557	566	576	1.7	3.4
Specialty food stores	378	409	413	0.8	9.3
Beer, wine and liquor stores	1,472	1,507	1,512	0.4	2.7
Health and personal care stores	2,540	2,630	2,661	1.2	4.8
Gasoline stations	3,350	3,932	3,841	-2.3	14.7
Clothing and clothing accessories stores	1,919	2,028	2,081	2.6	8.4
Clothing stores	1,493	1,570	1,614	2.8	8.1
Shoe stores	223	237	239	0.8	7.0
Jewellery, luggage and leather goods stores	203	221	229	3.2	12.6
Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores	926	927	931	0.5	0.6
General merchandise stores	4,328	4,568	4,560	-0.2	5.4
Miscellaneous store retailers	929	930	922	-1.0	-0.8

revised

preliminary

Note(s):

Figures may not add up to total due to rounding.

It is possible to consult the tables of unadjusted data by industry and by province and territory from the Tables by subject module of our website.

For information on related indicators, refer to the Latest statistics page on our website.

Available on CANSIM: tables 080-0020 and 080-0021.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers, including related surveys, 2406 and 2408.

The May 2010 issue of Retail Trade (63-005-X, free) will be available shortly.

Note to readers

All the data in this release are seasonally adjusted and in current dollars, unless otherwise noted.

Total retail sales by 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 a chain Fisher volume index with 2002 as the reference year.

Starting with the April 23, 2010 release of February 2010 data, the presentation of results makes direct use of the North American Industry Classification System instead of its trade group variant (see concordance table).

Data on retail trade for June will be released on August 24.

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 Jake W. Purdy (613-951-0984), Distributive Trades Division.