Retail trade, July 2018

Released: 2018-09-21

Retail sales rose 0.3% to $50.9 billion in July on higher sales at food and beverage stores and gasoline stations. Excluding the lower sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers, retail sales increased 0.9%.

Sales were up in 8 of 11 subsectors, representing 54.8% of total retail sales.

After removing the effects of price changes, retail sales in volume terms decreased 0.1%.

Chart 1 
Retail sales increase in July

Sales rise at food and beverage stores and gasoline stations and fall at motor vehicle and parts dealers

Sales at food and beverage stores rose 1.3% in July. The gain was led by higher receipts at supermarkets and other grocery stores (+1.2%). Sales at beer, wine and liquor stores (+1.5%) and convenience stores (+3.3%) increased for the fifth consecutive month.

Sales at gasoline stations rose 1.9%, largely stemming from higher prices at the pump as sales in volume terms were relatively unchanged in July.

Electronics and appliance stores (+2.4%) increased for the fourth consecutive month.

Motor vehicle and parts dealers (-1.4%) declined for the second month in a row. Lower sales at new car dealers (-2.2%) contributed to the decline while all other store types within this subsector reported gains.

According to the New Motor Vehicle Sales Survey, unit sales of new motor vehicles were down 0.2% on a year-to-date basis in July. However, 2017 was a record year, with unit sales surpassing the 2-million mark. In the first seven months of 2017, unit sales of new motor vehicles were up 5.0%.

Sales up in eight provinces

Retail sales increased in eight provinces in July.

Quebec (+0.4%) posted the largest increase in dollar terms. Higher receipts at food and beverage stores and, to a lesser extent, motor vehicle and parts dealers, offset a decline in health and personal care stores. Sales in the census metropolitan area (CMA) of Montréal rose 1.0%.

Retail sales in Alberta (+0.6%) rose for the sixth time in seven months, largely due to higher sales at gasoline stations and food and beverage stores.

Widespread gains among most retail subsectors were behind the growth in Nova Scotia (+2.1%), where sales rose for the first time in three months, and Newfoundland and Labrador (+2.5%), where sales were up for the first time in four months. Retail sales in New Brunswick (+1.7%) continued their upward trend, rising for the third month in a row.

Sales were up in Ontario (+0.1%) for the third consecutive month, on the strength of gasoline stations and health and personal care stores. Within the CMA of Toronto, retail sales rose 0.2%.

Sales in British Columbia (-0.5%) declined for the third consecutive month. Lower sales were reported by motor vehicle and parts dealers. Sales in the CMA of Vancouver fell 1.6%.

E-commerce sales by Canadian retailers

The figures in this section are based on unadjusted (that is, not seasonally adjusted) estimates.

On an unadjusted basis, retail e-commerce sales totalled $1.3 billion, representing 2.5% of total retail trade. On a year-over-year basis, retail e-commerce rose 9.4%, while total unadjusted retail sales increased 3.8%.

Summary tables of unadjusted data by industry and by province and territory are now available.

For information on related indicators, refer to Latest statistics.

Contact information

For more information, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca).

For analytical information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Jason Aston (613-951-0746; jason.aston@canada.ca), Retail and Service Industries Division.