Retail Commodity Survey, September 2021
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Released: 2021-12-07
Retail sales reached $57.7 billion in September 2021, an increase of 4.1% compared with the same month a year earlier. Higher sales were reported in 14 of the 19 commodity classes.
The advance estimate provided by the Monthly Retail Trade Survey suggests that unadjusted total retail sales in October increased by 1.4%. Because of its preliminary nature, this figure will be revised.
Automotive fuel sales lead retail spending for September
Sales of automotive and household fuels posted the highest growth of all commodity classes in September, rising 37.2% compared with the same month in 2020. With increasing prices at the pump, sales of automotive fuels continued to outperform pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, up 13.3% compared with September 2019.
The largest decrease in dollar terms came from sales of motor vehicles (-5.4%), the class's first year-over-year decline in the previous six months. Sales of new motor vehicles fell 13.5%, with the majority of the decline coming from sales of new minivans, sport utility vehicles and light trucks (-14.0%). Sales of used motor vehicles, which increased 7.9% compared with September 2020, partially offset the decline. Sales of used minivans, sport utility vehicles and light trucks were the largest contributor to this increase, up 12.4%.
Retail sales of food (+1.6%) showed growth in September, after three months of declining year-over-year sales. The largest contributor to sales growth in this class was fresh food (+2.1%), while sales of packaged food dry goods posted a 0.3% decline. Sales of soft drinks and alcoholic beverages posted a 6.5% increase compared with September 2020, led by higher sales of alcoholic beverages (+5.3%).
Sales of discretionary products continue to rise
With retailers' stores and shopping centres continuing to allow more in-person shopping across the country, higher sales were posted in the clothing commodity class, up 12.0%. Gains were recorded in every subclass, the largest of which were for sales of men's clothing (+14.4%) and sales of women's clothing (+12.7%). Sales of footwear continued to increase in September, rising 7.1% from a year earlier.
Sales of sporting and leisure products grew 11.0%, with the majority of gains coming from higher sales of sporting equipment (+14.7%). Hunting, fishing and camping equipment saw a sales increase of 15.3%, and, with COVID-19-related restrictions on recreational and sporting activities being eased, sales of team sporting equipment rose 38.8%.
Sales of cannabis products continued to increase to their highest value, totalling $354.7 million in September. Sales rose 38.2% compared with the same month in 2020. While the sales growth was led by dried cannabis flowering tops (+30.7%). The largest growth in a subclass came from cannabis extracts and concentrates (+85.0%), followed closely by cannabis-infused edible products (+73.8%).
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.
Find more statistics on retail trade.
Contact information
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