Retail trade
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Retail sales decreased 0.3% to $37.1 billion in January, the second decline in two months. Lower sales at new car dealers were the main contributor to the decline.
Sales in volume terms decreased 0.6%.
Lower sales were reported in 7 of 11 subsectors, representing 55% of total retail sales.
The largest decrease (in dollars) among all subsectors was registered by motor vehicle and parts dealers (-1.5%). Sales at new car dealers (-1.7%) declined for a second consecutive month after seven months of increases.
Sales at gasoline stations fell 1.4% in January. This was the first decline in sales since June 2010.
Note to readers
Beginning in January 2011, data for department stores (NAICS 4521) and other general merchandisers (NAICS 4529) are now available.
All the data in this release are seasonally adjusted and in current dollars, unless otherwise noted.
Total retail sales by volume are measured by deflating values in current dollars of the various trade groups using consumer price indexes. This retail sales in chained dollars series (2002) is a chain Fisher volume index with 2002 as the reference year.
Sales at furniture and home furnishings stores fell 2.3% in January, erasing the gain in December. This decline reflected a 3.6% decrease at furniture stores.
Clothing and clothing accessories stores registered a 0.8% decrease in January. Lower sales at clothing stores (-1.3%) and jewellery, luggage and leather goods stores (-1.6%) offset an increase at shoe stores (+3.7%).
The subsector with the largest sales increase (in dollars) was food and beverage stores, where sales rose 0.7%. Sales gains were also reported at supermarkets and other grocery stores (+0.9%) and beer, wine and liquor stores (+2.0%).
The 1.2% increase at general merchandise stores, which includes department stores, represents a fourth increase in five months.
For a third time in four months, higher sales were reported at building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers (+1.0%).
Sales at sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores rose 0.9% in January after a decline in December.
Sales down in the four largest provinces
Lower sales were reported in four provinces, representing 85% of total retail sales.
The largest contributor to the national decline was Quebec (-1.0%), where sales fell for first time since June 2010. The Quebec sales tax rate increased by one percentage point in January 2011.
Sales decreased by 0.5% in both Ontario and Alberta in January.
The 0.4% decline in British Columbia in January followed a large decrease in December.
In Saskatchewan, sales increased 3.0% in January after retreating in December.
Higher sales were reported in all of the Atlantic provinces. The largest gain occurred in New Brunswick (+2.3%), offsetting the decline in December.
It is possible to consult the tables of unadjusted data by industry and by province and territory from the Tables by subject module of our website.
For information on related indicators, refer to the Latest statistics page on our website.
Available on CANSIM: tables 080-0020 and 080-0021.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers, including related surveys, 2406 and 2408.
The January 2011 issue of Retail Trade (63-005-X, free) will be available shortly.
Data on retail trade for February will be released on April 21.
For more information, or to order data, contact Client Services (613-951-3549; toll-free 1-877-421-3067; retailinfo@statcan.gc.ca). For analytical information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Jake W. Purdy (613-951-0984), Distributive Trades Division.
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