Retail trade, July 2023

Released: 2023-09-22

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 
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 
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%.

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).