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Retail trade

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August 2010 (Previous release)

Retail sales increased 0.5% in current dollars to $36.1 billion in August after flat sales the previous two months. Gains were reported in 6 of 11 subsectors representing 70% of total retail sales.

In volume terms retail sales rose 0.3%.

Retail sales increase in August

The largest increase in dollar terms among all subsectors was registered at gasoline stations, where sales rose 2.1%, a second consecutive monthly increase.

Food and beverage stores (+0.8%) registered higher sales. Gains were reported at supermarkets (+1.2%) and convenience stores (+1.2%), while sales fell 0.8% at beer, wine and liquor stores.

Motor vehicle and parts dealers' sales increased 0.7%. Within this subsector, automotive parts, accessories and tire stores (+2.6%) and new car dealers (+1.0%) reported gains. Decreases were recorded at other motor vehicle dealers (-3.2%) and used car dealers (-0.5%) after two monthly increases.

Furniture and home furnishing stores advanced 2.1%. Sales at home furnishing stores were responsible for this increase, reporting a 7.0% gain following large fluctuations the previous two months.

Among the subsectors reporting declines, the largest percentage decrease was at sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores (-1.8%). This decline comes after two monthly increases.

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.

Sales decreased 0.8% in the clothing and clothing accessories stores subsector. Lower sales at jewellery, luggage and leather goods stores (-2.4%) and clothing stores (-0.9%) more than offset a 1.9% gain at shoe stores.

Sales up in seven provinces

Sales were up in seven provinces in August. Sales rose 1.5% in Alberta following smaller increases the previous two months.

Sales rose 0.3% in Ontario following flat sales the previous two months.

The largest percentage increase was in Nova Scotia, where sales rose 3.4%. Sales have fluctuated widely since June 2010. On July 1, there was a two percentage point increase in the Harmonized Sales Tax rate in Nova Scotia.

The largest decline was in Prince Edward Island, where sales fell 0.7%.

Table 1

Retail sales by province and territory
  August 2009 July 2010r August 2010p July to August 2010 August 2009 to August 2010
  Seasonally adjusted
   $ millions % change
Canada 34,863 35,912 36,079 0.5 3.5
Newfoundland and Labrador 595 607 612 0.9 2.9
Prince Edward Island 140 144 143 -0.7 1.6
Nova Scotia 1,019 1,026 1,060 3.4 4.1
New Brunswick 861 871 872 0.0 1.3
Quebec 7,862 8,111 8,106 -0.1 3.1
Ontario 12,439 12,797 12,833 0.3 3.2
Manitoba 1,253 1,323 1,335 0.9 6.6
Saskatchewan 1,234 1,245 1,262 1.4 2.3
Alberta 4,693 4,881 4,952 1.5 5.5
British Columbia 4,635 4,777 4,771 -0.1 2.9
Yukon 45 46 46 0.5 2.8
Northwest Territories 60 57 60 4.4 0.5
Nunavut 27 27 27 -1.6 0.5
true zero or a value rounded to zero
revised
preliminary
Note(s):
Figures may not add up to total due to rounding.

Table 2

Retail sales by industry
  August 2009 July 2010r August 2010p July to August 2010 August 2009 to August 2010
  Seasonally adjusted
   $ millions % change
Total retail trade 34,863 35,912 36,079 0.5 3.5
Total excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers 27,323 28,022 28,132 0.4 3.0
Total excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers and gasoline stations 23,766 24,263 24,295 0.1 2.2
Motor vehicle and parts dealers 7,541 7,889 7,947 0.7 5.4
New car dealers 5,976 6,316 6,382 1.0 6.8
Used car dealers 493 476 473 -0.5 -4.1
Other motor vehicle dealers 557 587 568 -3.2 2.0
Automotive parts, accessories and tire stores 514 510 524 2.6 1.9
Furniture and home furnishing stores 1,212 1,176 1,201 2.1 -0.9
Furniture stores 798 775 772 -0.4 -3.2
Home furnishings stores 414 401 429 7.0 3.7
Electronics and appliance stores 1,122 1,130 1,137 0.6 1.3
Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers 2,306 2,247 2,249 0.1 -2.4
Food and beverage stores 8,386 8,676 8,748 0.8 4.3
Supermarkets and other grocery (except convenience) stores 5,968 6,175 6,249 1.2 4.7
Convenience stores 567 563 570 1.2 0.5
Specialty food stores 382 408 412 1.1 7.9
Beer, wine and liquor stores 1,470 1,530 1,518 -0.8 3.3
Health and personal care stores 2,582 2,612 2,602 -0.4 0.8
Gasoline stations 3,556 3,759 3,837 2.1 7.9
Clothing and clothing accessories stores 1,945 2,040 2,024 -0.8 4.1
Clothing stores 1,510 1,594 1,579 -0.9 4.6
Shoe stores 231 231 235 1.9 1.6
Jewellery, luggage and leather goods stores 204 215 210 -2.4 3.1
Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores 943 941 923 -1.8 -2.1
General merchandise stores 4,331 4,544 4,521 -0.5 4.4
Miscellaneous store retailers 938 898 888 -1.0 -5.3
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 August 2010 issue of Retail Trade (63-005-X, free) will be available shortly.

Data on retail trade for September will be released on November 23.

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.