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Retail trade, July 2023

Released: 2023-09-22

Retail sales — Canada

$66.1 billion

July 2023

0.3% increase

(monthly change)

Retail sales — N.L.

$1.0 billion

July 2023

3.1% increase

(monthly change)

Retail sales — P.E.I.

$0.3 billion

July 2023

-0.9% decrease

(monthly change)

Retail sales — N.S.

$1.7 billion

July 2023

-2.2% decrease

(monthly change)

Retail sales — N.B.

$1.4 billion

July 2023

0.6% increase

(monthly change)

Retail sales — Que.

$14.8 billion

July 2023

1.0% increase

(monthly change)

Retail sales — Ont.

$24.8 billion

July 2023

-0.2% decrease

(monthly change)

Retail sales — Man.

$2.2 billion

July 2023

-0.1% decrease

(monthly change)

Retail sales — Sask.

$2.1 billion

July 2023

0.8% increase

(monthly change)

Retail sales — Alta.

$8.4 billion

July 2023

-0.4% decrease

(monthly change)

Retail sales — B.C.

$9.1 billion

July 2023

1.4% increase

(monthly change)

Retail sales — Y.T.

$0.1 billion

July 2023

7.7% increase

(monthly change)

Retail sales — N.W.T.

$0.1 billion

July 2023

4.5% increase

(monthly change)

Retail sales — Nvt.

$0.1 billion

July 2023

2.9% increase

(monthly change)

Retail sales increased 0.3% to $66.1 billion in July. Sales increased in seven of the nine subsectors and were led by increases at food and beverage retailers (+1.3%).

Core retail sales—which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers—were up 1.3% in July.

In volume terms, retail sales edged down 0.2% in July.

Chart 1  Chart 1: Retail sales increase in July
Retail sales increase in July

Port strike in British Columbia

Based on respondent feedback, approximately 17% of Canadian retailers reported that their business activities in July had been affected by the strike at the ports in British Columbia.

On an unadjusted basis, the largest estimated impacts on sales in dollar terms were at motor vehicle and parts dealers.

Core retail sales rise on gains at food and beverage retailers

Core retail sales increased 1.3% in July, led by higher sales at food and beverage retailers (+1.3%) and general merchandise retailers (+1.8%). Sales at food and beverage retailers were up on the strength of higher sales at supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers) (+1.5%), beer, wine and liquor retailers (+1.3%) and convenience retailers and vending machine operators (+1.0%) in July.

Sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers fall for the first time in four months

The largest decrease in retail sales in July was observed at motor vehicle and parts dealers (-1.6%), which recorded their first decline in four months. Lower sales at new car dealers (-1.7%) led the decrease, followed by used car dealers (-3.1%). Automotive parts, accessories and tire retailers (+1.0%) were the only store type in this subsector to increase in July.

Lower sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors (-0.7%) also weighed on retail sales in July. In volume terms, sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors decreased 1.0%.

Chart 2  Chart 2: Sales increase in seven of nine subsectors in July
Sales increase in seven of nine subsectors in July

Sales up in five provinces

Retail sales increased in five provinces in July, led by higher sales in Quebec (+1.0%) and British Columbia (+1.4%).

In Quebec, retail sales were up 1.0% in July. In the census metropolitan area (CMA) of Montréal, retail sales were down 0.5%.

After decreasing 3.2% in June, retail sales in British Columbia rose 1.4% in July. In the CMA of Vancouver, retail sales were up 2.0% in July.

The largest provincial decrease in retail sales in July was observed in Ontario (-0.2%). The decrease was driven by lower sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers.

Retail e-commerce sales in Canada

On a seasonally adjusted basis, retail e-commerce sales were up 2.4% to $4.0 billion in July, accounting for 6.0% of total retail trade, compared with 5.9% in June.

Advance retail indicator

Statistics Canada is providing an advance estimate of retail sales, which suggests that sales decreased 0.3% in August. Owing to its early nature, this figure will be revised. This unofficial estimate was calculated based on responses received from 49.2% of companies surveyed. The average final response rate for the survey over the previous 12 months was 88.8%.




  Note to readers

All data in this release are seasonally adjusted and expressed in current dollars, unless otherwise noted.

Seasonally adjusted data are data that have been modified to eliminate the effect of seasonal and calendar influences to allow for more meaningful comparisons of economic conditions from period to period. For more information on seasonal adjustment, see Seasonally adjusted data – Frequently asked questions.

The percentage change for the advance estimate of retail sales is calculated using seasonally adjusted data and is expressed in current dollars.

This early indicator is a special unofficial estimate being provided in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic to offer Canadians timely information on the retail sector. The data sources and methodology used are the same as those outlined on the Monthly Retail Trade Survey information page.

Trend-cycle estimates are included in selected charts as a complement to the seasonally adjusted series. These data represent a smoothed version of the seasonally adjusted time series and provide information on longer-term movements, including changes in direction underlying the series. For information on trend-cycle data, see Trend-cycle estimates – Frequently asked questions.

Both seasonally adjusted data and trend-cycle estimates are subject to revision as additional observations become available. These revisions could be extensive and could even lead to a reversal of movement, especially for the reference months near the end of the series or during periods of economic disruption.

Seasonally adjusted estimates for cannabis store retailers are presented in unadjusted form, as no seasonal pattern has been established by official statistics yet. Establishing such a pattern requires several months of observed data. In the interim, the seasonally adjusted estimates for cannabis store retailers will be identical to the unadjusted figures.

Some common e-commerce transactions, such as travel and accommodation bookings, ticket purchases and financial transactions, are not included in Canadian retail sales figures.

Total retail sales expressed in volume terms are calculated by deflating current-dollar values using consumer price indexes.

Find more statistics on retail trade.

Next release

Data on retail trade for August will be released on October 20.

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; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).

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