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Retail Services Price Index, fourth quarter 2016

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Released: 2017-05-18

The Retail Services Price Index (RSPI) declined 1.3% in the fourth quarter, with 5 of the 10 major retail subsectors posting margin declines.

Chart 1  Chart 1: Retail Services Price Index
Retail Services Price Index

Food and beverage stores (-2.8%) registered the largest retail margin decrease following three quarters of gains. Margin declines were concentrated at grocery stores (-4.6%), as retailers faced rising input costs and falling prices for many food staples. Moderating the subsector declines were margin gains at specialty food stores (+1.2%) and beer, wine and liquor stores (+0.5%).

General merchandise stores (-2.4%) posted margin declines in the fourth quarter. All other general merchandise stores (-7.3%) contributed the most to the decline during this period of holiday price promotions. Department stores and warehouse clubs are also included in this retail subsector.

Margins at gasoline stations (-3.2%) declined amidst low seasonal demand for fuel products and higher input costs for retailers. Both gasoline stations with convenience stores (-0.9%) and other gasoline stations (-4.2%) recorded margin declines.

These three subsectors were the greatest contributors to the decline in the RSPI.

Moderating the decline in the RSPI were margin gains at building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers (+1.3%), sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores (+2.2%) and miscellaneous store retailers (+0.3%).

Year-over-year change

The RSPI was up 1.1% in the fourth quarter compared with the same quarter a year earlier. Of the 10 major retail sectors, 5 were up, 4 were down and 1 was unchanged.

Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers (+8.4%) recorded the highest year-over-year margin growth, followed by electronics and appliance stores (+4.6%). Miscellaneous store retailers (+2.9%), gasoline stations (+2.6%) and clothing and clothing accessories stores (+1.1%) were the remaining subsectors posting gains.

Margins decreased at health and personal care stores (-2.8%), sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores (-1.2%), furniture and home furnishings stores (-0.7%) and food and beverage stores (-0.4%).

General merchandise stores' margins remained unchanged on a year-over-year basis.


  Note to readers

The RSPI represents the change in the price of the retail service. The price of the retail service is defined as the margin price, which is the difference between the average purchase price and the average selling price of the retail product being priced. The RSPI is not a retail selling price index.

The indexes are not seasonally adjusted. Data are available at the Canada level only.

Infographic: Producer Price Indexes at a Glance

The infographic "Producer Price Indexes at a Glance," which is part of Statistics Canada — Infographics (Catalogue number11-627-M), demonstrates how producer price indexes for goods and services are calculated and why they are important for the Canadian economy.

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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