Quarterly Retail Commodity Survey, fourth quarter 2017
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Released: 2018-04-19
Retail sales in Canada reached $155.4 billion in the fourth quarter, up 5.8% from the fourth quarter of 2016. Sales were up in 14 of the 16 commodity groupings.
Sales of motor vehicles posted the largest increase, rising 6.8%. The largest contributor to the gain was used motor vehicles (+12.0%), with sales outpacing those of new motor vehicles (+4.6%). The increase in sales of new motor vehicles was led by new minivans, sport utility vehicles and light trucks. Moderating the gain were lower sales of new passenger automobiles. Sales of motor vehicle parts, accessories and supplies were up 11.0%.
Sales of automotive fuels and household fuels increased 11.1% compared with the fourth quarter of 2016. Gains were largely attributable to higher receipts of automotive fuels (+11.0%), reflecting price movements at the pump over this period.
Hardware, tools, renovation and lawn and garden product sales were up 12.7% in the fourth quarter. The largest contributor to the increase was renovation materials and supplies (+12.1%).
Receipts from home furniture, furnishings, housewares, appliances and electronics grew 5.1%, led by home electronics (+11.7%) and home appliances (+12.7%). Lower sales of housewares (-9.0%) moderated the gains.
Clothing (-3.4%) and sporting and leisure products (-3.9%) were the only two commodity groupings to post declines.
Note to readers
The Quarterly Retail Commodity Survey collects national level retail sales by commodity, from the same businesses as in the Monthly Retail Trade Survey. Quarterly data have not been adjusted for seasonality. All percentage changes are year over year.
Beginning with the first quarter of 2017, published data are based on an updated sample. The new level of estimates has led to time series revisions back to the first quarter of 2012. These revisions also incorporate 2016 annual revisions, as well as some other historical revisions.
The quality rating of the series should be considered when making year-over-year comparisons of sales levels. Some of the year-over-year changes may reflect differences in the businesses selected in the old and new samples and/or the move to the North American Product Classification System in the third quarter of 2016. Estimates for major product groups are of higher quality than those for more specific products.
CANSIM table 080-0022 has been replaced by CANSIM table 080-0035.
Contact information
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