Quarterly Retail Commodity Survey

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Retail commodity sales in the fourth quarter amounted to $111.2 billion, up 2.5% over the fourth quarter of 2008. Sales increased in all major commodity groups.

The strongest year-over-year increase of the major commodity groupings occurred in sales of motor vehicles, parts and services, which rose 5.5%.

The value of sales of new automotive vehicles increased 6.1%, due largely to an 11.1% advance in the value of sales of new trucks, vans, minivans and sport utility vehicles. The value of sales of new cars declined 0.4%. Sales of used automotive vehicles increased 8.6%, while those of automotive parts and accessories rose 1.8%.

Sales of health and personal care products increased 3.2%. Sales grew at a similar pace for prescription and over-the-counter drugs and sales of personal care, health and beauty products.

Food and beverage sales increased 3.0% to $25.8 billion, while food sales increased 3.3%. Between the fourth quarter of 2008 and the fourth quarter of 2009, prices of food purchased from stores rose 1.5%, according to the Consumer Price Index.

Sales of hardware, lawn and garden products at retail stores rose 1.5%, while sales of hardware and home renovation products advanced 2.1%. Sales of lumber and other building materials, the largest component of this commodity grouping, declined slightly.

Sales of automotive fuels, oils and additives advanced 1.1%.

Sales of furniture, home furnishings and electronics rose 1.0%. This was the result of a 5.7% increase in sales of home furnishings, while sales of indoor furniture, appliances and electronics declined 0.6%.

Furniture, home furnishings and electronics stores lost more than one percentage point in market share for furniture, home furnishings and electronics between the fourth quarter of 2008 and fourth quarter of 2009. The lost share went mainly to building and outdoor home supplies stores.

Sales of sporting and leisure goods rose marginally. Lower sales of sporting goods and pre-recorded CDs, DVDs and video and audio tapes were offset by higher sales of other goods in this category. These goods included fabrics, yarns, sewing supplies and notions and books, newspapers and other periodicals.

Note: The Quarterly Retail Commodity Survey collects national level retail sales by commodity, from a sub-sample of businesses in the Monthly Retail Trade Survey. Quarterly data have not been adjusted for seasonality. All percentage changes are year-over-year.

Available on CANSIM: tables 080-0018 and 080-0019.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2008.

For more information, or to order data, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-877-421-3067; 613-951-3549; retailinfo@statcan.gc.ca). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Abdul Mohammed (613-951-7719), Distributive Trades Division.