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Retail trade, August 2023

Released: 2023-10-20

Retail sales — Canada

$66.1 billion

August 2023

-0.1% decrease

(monthly change)

Retail sales — N.L.

$1.0 billion

August 2023

-2.8% decrease

(monthly change)

Retail sales — P.E.I.

$0.3 billion

August 2023

2.3% increase

(monthly change)

Retail sales — N.S.

$1.8 billion

August 2023

1.8% increase

(monthly change)

Retail sales — N.B.

$1.4 billion

August 2023

-1.0% decrease

(monthly change)

Retail sales — Que.

$14.9 billion

August 2023

-0.5% decrease

(monthly change)

Retail sales — Ont.

$24.7 billion

August 2023

-0.0% decrease

(monthly change)

Retail sales — Man.

$2.2 billion

August 2023

1.6% increase

(monthly change)

Retail sales — Sask.

$2.1 billion

August 2023

-0.0% decrease

(monthly change)

Retail sales — Alta.

$8.5 billion

August 2023

0.9% increase

(monthly change)

Retail sales — B.C.

$9.0 billion

August 2023

-1.1% decrease

(monthly change)

Retail sales — Y.T.

$0.1 billion

August 2023

-1.6% decrease

(monthly change)

Retail sales — N.W.T.

$0.1 billion

August 2023

-22.1% decrease

(monthly change)

Retail sales — Nvt.

$0.1 billion

August 2023

1.8% increase

(monthly change)

Retail sales decreased 0.1% to $66.1 billion in August. Sales were down in six of nine subsectors and were led by decreases at motor vehicle and parts dealers (-0.9%).

Core retail sales—which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers—were down 0.3% in August.

In volume terms, retail sales declined 0.7% in August.

Chart 1  Chart 1: Retail sales decrease in August
Retail sales decrease in August

Port strike in British Columbia

Based on respondent feedback, approximately 12% of Canadian retailers reported that their business activities in August had been affected by the strike at the ports in British Columbia.

Sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers fall

The decrease in retail sales in August was led by lower sales in the motor vehicle and parts dealers subsector (-0.9%), down for a second consecutive month. Lower sales were reported at new car dealers (-1.1%) and used car dealers (-0.5%). Other motor vehicle dealers (+1.1%) were the only store type in this subsector to increase in August.

The largest increase in retail sales in August was observed at gasoline stations and fuel vendors (+2.8%). In volume terms, sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors decreased 2.9%.

Core retail sales decline

Core retail sales decreased 0.3% in August, led by lower sales at food and beverage retailers (-1.2%) and, to a lesser extent, sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book and miscellaneous retailers (-1.1%). Sales at food and beverage retailers were down from lower sales at supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers) (-1.6%) and beer, wine and liquor retailers (-1.2%).

The largest increase to core retail sales came from health and personal care retailers (+1.2%).

Chart 2  Chart 2: Sales decrease in six of nine subsectors in August
Sales decrease in six of nine subsectors in August

Sales down in six provinces

Retail sales decreased in six provinces in August. The largest provincial decrease was observed in British Columbia (-1.1%), led by lower sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers. In the census metropolitan area (CMA) of Vancouver, sales were down 1.6%.

In Quebec, retail sales were down 0.5% in August. In the CMA of Montréal, retail sales edged down 0.2%.

The largest provincial increase in August was observed in Alberta (+0.9%). This increase was driven by higher sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors.

Retail sales dropped 22.1% in the Northwest Territories in August, coinciding with wildfire evacuations.

Retail e-commerce sales in Canada

On a seasonally adjusted basis, retail e-commerce sales were down 2.0% to $3.9 billion in August, accounting for 5.8% of total retail trade, compared with 6.0% in July.

Advance retail indicator

Statistics Canada is providing an advance estimate of retail sales, which suggests that sales were unchanged in September. Owing to its early nature, this figure will be revised. This unofficial estimate was calculated based on responses received from 36.5% of companies surveyed. The average final response rate for the survey over the previous 12 months was 88.7%.




  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 September will be released on November 24.

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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