Quarterly Retail Commodity Survey, fourth quarter 2019
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Released: 2020-04-17
Retail Sales in Canada reached $160.3 billion in the fourth quarter, up 1.5% from the same quarter of 2018. Higher sales were recorded in 9 of the 19 commodity groupings. While the impacts of COVID-19 on the retail trade sector will be more noticeable in subsequent months, respondent comments for February indicate that business activities have been impacted.
The largest increase in dollar terms came from food, which posted a year-over-year growth of 4.0%. The largest contributors to the gain were fresh fruit and vegetables (+6.4%) and fresh meat (+5.1%). Sales of soft drinks and alcoholic beverages were up 2.4% compared with the previous year, on the strength of a 1.8% increase in sales of alcoholic beverages.
Sales of motor vehicles increased 2.0% in the fourth quarter. The majority of the increase came from higher sales of new motor vehicles (+2.3%). New passenger automobiles continued their downward trend with sales declining 11.5%, offset by higher sales for new minivans, sport utility vehicles, and light trucks. Receipts for used motor vehicles gained 1.6% compared with the same quarter of 2018.
Following three consecutive quarters of declines, automotive and household fuels increased 3.4% in the fourth quarter. Higher sales of automotive fuels (+3.4%) accounted for the majority of the increase.
Sales of cannabis products continue to rise, totalling $412.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. Sales of dried cannabis flowering tops were $372.4 million, while sales of cannabis oil were $38.2 million.
The largest decline posted by a commodity grouping came from home health products (-2.2%). Declines were largely attributable to lower receipts of pharmaceuticals (-2.5%).
Receipts of home furniture, furnishings, housewares, appliances and electronics fell 0.6%. Lower revenue from home electronics (-6.9%) accounted for the majority of the decrease. Higher sales in housewares (+2.8%) and home furnishings (+3.1%) served to dampen the declines.
Note to readers
The Quarterly Retail Commodity Survey collects national-level retail sales by commodity from the same businesses as the Monthly Retail Trade Survey. Quarterly data have not been adjusted for seasonality. All percentage changes are year over year.
New Monthly Retail Commodity Survey data now available
Check out the data from the new Monthly Retail Commodity Survey (MRCS) (table 20-10-0017-01). Sales revenue by commodity at the national level for the Canadian retail sector and estimates from January to July 2019 are now available.
Analysis of the new data is available in The Daily, along with the new MRCS table.
New Quarterly Retail Commodity Survey data visualization tool
Check out the latest Quarterly Retail Commodity Survey (QRCS) estimates in a new interactive way! The QRCS's new visualization tool allows users to more easily view, customize and interpret the quarterly sales data.
Contact information
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