Retail Commodity Survey, May 2021
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Released: 2021-08-09
Retail sales reached $58.0 billion in May, an increase of 22.0% compared with the same month a year earlier. Higher sales were reported in 17 of the 19 commodity categories.
Looking ahead to June, the advance estimate provided by the Monthly Retail Trade Survey suggests that unadjusted total retail sales increased by 6.8%. Because of its preliminary nature, this figure will be revised.
Automotive sales continue to drive retail growth
For the third consecutive month, sales of motor vehicles led all gains in the retail sector, posting an increase of 58.4% in the month of May. With restrictions implemented in certain provinces because of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, sales of motor vehicles posted annual gains, primarily because of sharp declines at the beginning of the pandemic. Compared with May 2019, motor vehicle sales were down 8.2%.
In May, sales of new motor vehicles (+52.0%) led the growth in the product class, driven largely by higher sales of new minivans, sport utility vehicles and light trucks (+52.8%) and new passenger automobiles (+47.6%). Sales of used motor vehicles continued to post strong increases, up 69.5% when compared with May 2020.
Sales of automotive fuels continued to experience strong growth in May, rising 69.0% from a year earlier. These gains were mainly attributable to increasing gasoline prices (+43.4%), largely because of supply chain disruptions in the United States and production cuts by international oil producers. In terms of year-over-year growth, automotive fuel sales rose at a slower pace in the month of May than in April, as prices and demand had begun to recover in May 2020 from their all-time lows a month earlier.
Sales of non-essential products continue to increase
With Canadians continuing to pursue projects around the home, sales of hardware, tools, and renovation and lawn and garden products grew 17.0% in May, the product class's 13th consecutive year-over-year increase. The majority of the gain came from higher sales of renovation materials and supplies (+22.2%), with sales of lumber and other renovation materials and supplies (+27.2%) accounting for the bulk of the increase. Higher sales were also posted in the home lawn and gardening equipment and supplies (+9.0%) and hardware and tools (+6.4%) subclasses.
Very strong sales were also seen in several discretionary products in the sector. Among the largest increases were those in sales of clothing (+28.0%); recreational vehicles (+40.6%); footwear (+37.0%); and jewellery and watches, luggage, and briefcases (+122.3%).
Food sales remain strong
Coming off strong sales levels at the onset of the pandemic, sales of food posted a 0.6% increase in May compared with the same month in the previous year. With many pandemic-related restrictions still in place that limited Canadians' dining options, sales of fresh food (+0.3%) and packaged food dry goods (+1.4%) remained close to their levels seen in the early stages of the pandemic a year earlier. Leading the gains in these product subclasses were baked goods (+5.6%) and cookies, confectionery, and snack foods (+4.4%).
Note to readers
The Retail Commodity Survey collects national-level retail sales data, by commodity, from the same businesses surveyed in the Monthly Retail Trade Survey. No data have been seasonally adjusted. All percentage changes are year over year.
New retail commodity data for e-commerce now available
Estimates from the Retail Commodity Survey are now available for the electronic shopping and mail-order houses industry (North American Industry Classification System [NAICS] code 454110).
E-commerce figures from brick-and-mortar retailers are included with the retailer's commodity sales. If the online operations of a brick-and-mortar retailer are separately managed, they are classified under NAICS code 45411 (electronic shopping and mail-order houses). Businesses commonly referred to as pure-play Internet retailers are also classified under NAICS code 45411. Total retail sales figures do not include sales from retailers classified under NAICS code 45411.
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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