Retail trade, June 2015
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Released: 2015-08-21
$43.2 billion
June 2015
0.6% 
(monthly change)
Retail sales increased 0.6% to $43.2 billion in June. Sales were up in 8 of 11 subsectors, representing 64% of retail trade.
In the first six months of 2015, retail sales were up 2.2% compared with the same period in 2014. Excluding gasoline stations (-16.1%), retail sales were up 5.0% in the first half of 2015.
After removing the effects of price changes, retail sales in volume terms were flat in June.
Chart 1
Retail sales up in June
Higher sales at gasoline stations and electronics and appliance stores
Gasoline stations (+2.6%) recorded the largest gain in dollar terms, reflecting higher prices at the pump. Sales at gasoline stations have increased five months in a row, following seven consecutive decreases. According to the Consumer Price Index, gasoline prices were up 6.0% on a month-over-month basis in June, after rising 5.5% in May.
Sales at electronics and appliance stores increased 9.4% in June. The growth was driven by stronger sales of telephones and home office electronics, which coincided with the implementation of new regulations limiting the duration of cellular telephone contracts.
Sales at general merchandise stores rose 0.3%, the second consecutive increase.
Sales at sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores were up 1.3% in June, following a decline in May. Weaker sales at sporting goods stores were more than offset by higher sales at other store types within the subsector.
Sales at food and beverage stores were flat in June. Within the subsector, receipts at supermarkets and other grocery stores (-0.1%) and specialty food stores (-0.3%) edged down, while sales at convenience stores (+0.1%) and beer, wine and liquor stores (+0.8%) increased.
Following six straight monthly gains, sales at building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers were 1.4% lower in June.
Receipts at clothing and clothing accessories stores (-0.4%) declined for the second consecutive month.
After four consecutive monthly gains, new car dealers recorded a 0.5% decrease, dragging down sales in the motor vehicle and parts subsector (-0.1%). Sales at used car dealers (+1.3%), other motor vehicle dealers (+3.1%), and automotive parts, accessories and tire stores (+1.0%) all increased in June.
Sales up in all provinces
Retail sales were up in all 10 provinces in June.
Ontario (+0.6%) recorded the largest increase in dollar terms, posting higher sales for the fifth consecutive month.
Sales in British Columbia advanced 0.7% in June, largely as a result of higher sales at gasoline stations and electronics and appliance stores.
Quebec (+0.3%) reported higher retail sales for the fourth time in five months, posting stronger sales at electronics and appliance stores and new car dealers.
Receipts in Alberta rose 0.4% on the strength of higher sales at gasoline stations and other motor vehicle dealers.
In the Atlantic provinces, sales were up for the third month in a row in Newfoundland and Labrador (+1.8%), Nova Scotia (+0.5%), and Prince Edward Island (+0.8%), while New Brunswick (+1.3%) posted its fifth consecutive retail sales increase.
It is possible to consult tables of unadjusted data by industry and by province and territory in the Summary tables module of our website.
For information on related indicators, refer to the Latest statistics page on our website.
Note to readers
All data in this release are seasonally adjusted and in current dollars, unless otherwise noted. For information on seasonal adjustment, see Seasonally adjusted data – Frequently asked questions.
Total retail sales expressed in volume are calculated by deflating current dollar values using consumer price indexes. The retail sales series in chained (2007) dollars is a chained Fisher volume index with 2007 as the reference year. For more information, see Calculation of Volume of Retail Trade Sales.
Next release
Data on retail trade for July will be released on September 23.
Products
The June 2015 issue of Retail Trade (63-005-X) will soon be available.
Contact information
For more information, or to order data, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca).
For analytical information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Jason Aston (613-951-0746; jason.aston@statcan.gc.ca), Retail and Service Industries Division.
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