Statistics Canada reports April retail sales up 0.3 per cent at $70.1 billion
Statistics Canada says retail sales rose 0.3% to $70.1 billion in April, helped by gains in sales at new and used car dealers.
However, the agency says its preliminary figures for May point to a drop of 1.1% for that month.
For April, six of nine subsectors were up as sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers gained 1.9%, boosted by a 2.9% increase at new car dealer and a 2.1% rise at used car dealers.
READ: Manufacturing sales in April see biggest monthly drop since 2023 amid U.S. tariffs
Sales at sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers rose 1.0%, while furniture, home furnishings, electronics and appliances retailers gained 0.8%. Sales at clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers fell 2.2%.
Core retail sales, which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers, gained 0.1% in April.
In volume terms, overall retail sales rose 0.5% in April.
