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Retail trade

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June 2010 (Previous release)

Retail sales edged up 0.1% in current dollars to $35.9 billion in June.

When price changes are factored in, retail sales in volume terms were up 0.9%. Lower prices were observed at gasoline stations and new car dealers.

Retail sales edge up in June

Retail sales rose in 5 of 11 subsectors in June. The largest increase in dollar terms was a 2.1% rise at motor vehicle and parts dealers. New car dealers reported gains of 2.0%, reflecting higher sales of new motor vehicles, according to the New Motor Vehicle Sales Survey. Sales were up at used car dealers (+4.5%) and automotive parts, accessories and tire stores (+1.8%), following declines in the previous two months.

Sales rose 5.1% at electronics and appliance stores. Sales in this subsector have been trending upward since October 2009.

Furniture and home furnishing stores sales increased 2.3%, led by a 4.1% gain at home furnishings stores. Furniture stores (+1.2%) had higher sales for a second consecutive month in June.

Sales at building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers increased 0.5%, on the heels of two months of substantial declines and large monthly sales fluctuations in early 2010.

The largest decline was at gasoline stations, which fell 2.7%, as prices at the pump fell. This was the third consecutive monthly sales decline at gasoline stations, following increases in the previous 11 months.

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 21, 2010, release of February 2010 data, the presentation of results makes direct use of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) instead of its trade group variant (see concordance table).

General merchandisers (-1.7%) reported lower sales for a third consecutive month.

Sales at clothing and clothing accessories stores fell 1.1%. This subsector has been trending upwards since April 2009. Within the subsector, sales fell at jewellery, luggage and leather goods stores (-4.2%), shoe stores (-3.7%) and clothing stores (-0.3%).

Sales down in six provinces

Sales were down in six provinces in June.

Retail sales declined in all of the Atlantic provinces except Nova Scotia, where sales rose 3.1%. June was the month preceeding a two percentage point increase in the Harmonized Sales Tax rate in Nova Scotia.

Sales increased 0.3% in Ontario following declines in April and May.

Quebec retailers registered a 0.2% sales decline in June, a third consecutive monthly decrease.

Table 1

Retail sales by province and territory
  June 2009 May 2010r June 2010p May to June 2010 June 2009 to June 2010
  Seasonally adjusted
   $ millions % change
Canada 34,605 35,914 35,934 0.1 3.8
Newfoundland and Labrador 600 604 601 -0.6 0.1
Prince Edward Island 140 146 143 -1.6 2.8
Nova Scotia 1,017 1,048 1,081 3.1 6.3
New Brunswick 830 871 855 -1.8 3.0
Quebec 7,811 8,069 8,051 -0.2 3.1
Ontario 12,300 12,844 12,886 0.3 4.8
Manitoba 1,254 1,290 1,289 0.0 2.8
Saskatchewan 1,222 1,221 1,230 0.7 0.6
Alberta 4,721 4,844 4,834 -0.2 2.4
British Columbia 4,581 4,844 4,830 -0.3 5.4
Yukon 44 46 46 -0.5 5.3
Northwest Territories 59 59 60 1.3 0.5
Nunavut 27 29 28 -1.0 4.8
revised
preliminary
Note(s):
Figures may not add up to total as a result of rounding.

Table 2

Retail sales by industry
  June 2009 May 2010r June 2010p May to June 2010 June 2009 to June 2010
  Seasonally adjusted
   $ millions % change
Total retail trade 34,605 35,914 35,934 0.1 3.8
Total excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers 27,275 28,284 28,146 -0.5 3.2
Total excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers and gasoline stations 23,805 24,480 24,444 -0.1 2.7
Motor vehicle and parts dealers 7,330 7,631 7,787 2.1 6.2
New car dealers 5,764 6,105 6,230 2.0 8.1
Used car dealers 498 459 480 4.5 -3.7
Other motor vehicle dealers 562 563 565 0.4 0.5
Automotive parts, accessories and tire stores 506 503 512 1.8 1.3
Furniture and home furnishing stores 1,187 1,273 1,302 2.3 9.6
Furniture stores 772 806 815 1.2 5.6
Home furnishings stores 415 467 486 4.1 17.2
Electronics and appliance stores 1,144 1,149 1,208 5.1 5.6
Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers 2,280 2,311 2,321 0.5 1.8
Food and beverage stores 8,497 8,640 8,630 -0.1 1.6
Supermarkets and other grocery (except convenience) stores 6,042 6,164 6,161 -0.1 2.0
Convenience stores 563 566 560 -0.9 -0.5
Specialty food stores 377 407 408 0.3 8.2
Beer, wine and liquor stores 1,514 1,502 1,500 -0.1 -0.9
Health and personal care stores 2,569 2,658 2,631 -1.0 2.4
Gasoline stations 3,471 3,804 3,702 -2.7 6.7
Clothing and clothing accessories stores 1,934 2,061 2,039 -1.1 5.4
Clothing stores 1,502 1,600 1,596 -0.3 6.3
Shoe stores 229 234 226 -3.7 -1.3
Jewellery, luggage and leather goods stores 204 227 217 -4.2 6.8
Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores 941 922 938 1.8 -0.2
General merchandise stores 4,327 4,544 4,466 -1.7 3.2
Miscellaneous store retailers 926 923 909 -1.5 -1.8
revised
preliminary
Note(s):
Figures may not add up to total as a result of 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 June 2010 issue of Retail Trade (63-005-X, free) will be available shortly.

Data on retail trade for July will be released on September 22.

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 Mark Switzer (613-951-7137), Distributive Trades Division.