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Quarterly Retail Commodity Survey, second quarter 2016

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Released: 2016-10-17

Retail sales totalled $139.7 billion in the second quarter, up 3.6% from the second quarter of 2015. Higher sales were recorded in 9 of 10 commodity groups.

Sales of motor vehicles, parts and services rose 7.3%, accounting for half of the overall increase in the second quarter. Higher sales of new trucks, mini-vans, sport utility vehicles and buses (+13.6%) were tempered by lower sales of new cars (-5.8%). Sales of used automotive vehicles were up 9.3%, their 13th consecutive year-over-year gain.

New motor vehicle sales accounted for 14.0 cents of every dollar spent on retail purchases in the second quarter, the highest proportion on record. Sales of used cars accounted for 7.0 cents of every dollar. Together, 21.0 cents of every retail dollar was spent on new or used motor vehicles in the second quarter.

Sales of new trucks, vans, mini-vans sport utility vehicles and buses accounted for the largest proportion of new motor vehicle sales in the second quarter, representing 9.8 cents of every retail dollar. Conversely, new car sales accounted for 4.2 cents.

Chart 1  Chart 1: Retail sales by commodity
Retail sales by commodity

Sales of food and beverages were up 2.0% in the second quarter, mainly as a result of higher food sales (+1.8%). An increase in the sales of dairy products and eggs (+4.9%) largely accounted for the gain in food sales. Higher sales of fresh fruits and vegetables (+2.9%) were mainly due to higher prices.

As new home sales continued to rise, retail sales of furniture, home furnishing and electronics were up 5.0% in the second quarter, their highest growth rate in nearly eight years. Increases in the sales of home furnishings (+6.4%) and indoor furniture (+5.8%) led the gains.

Chart 2  Chart 2: Year-over-year change in sales of furniture, home furnishings and electronics
Year-over-year change in sales of furniture, home furnishings and electronics

Hardware, lawn and garden product sales grew 5.2% in the second quarter. Higher receipts for lumber and other building materials (+4.3%) and plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical equipment and supplies (+10.9%) were the largest contributors to the gain.

Sales of health and personal care products rose 5.3% year over year. Higher sales of other toiletries and personal care products (+7.4%), and prescription drugs (+4.5%) accounted for most of the growth.

Sales of automotive fuels, oils and additives (-4.8%) posted their seventh consecutive year-over-year decline in the second quarter. Automotive fuels accounted for most of the decrease, down 5.1% as a result of lower prices at the pump.


  Note to readers

Starting with the release of data for the third quarter 2016 reference period, the Quarterly Retail Commodity Survey will be based on the North American Product Classification System. The current CANSIM table (080-0022) will be terminated and replaced with CANSIM table 080-0035.

Contact information

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@canada.ca).

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