Retail trade, June 2024

Released: 2024-08-23

Retail sales decreased 0.3% to $65.7 billion in June. Sales were down in four of nine subsectors and were led by decreases at motor vehicle and parts dealers.

Core retail sales—which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers—were up 0.4% in June.

In volume terms, retail sales increased 0.1% in June.

Retail sales were down 0.5% in the second quarter. In volume terms, quarterly sales declined 0.3%.

Chart 1 
Retail sales decrease in June

Sales down at motor vehicle and parts dealers

The largest decrease in retail sales in June was observed at motor vehicle and parts dealers (-2.1%). The decrease was led by lower sales at new car dealers (-2.9%), followed by used car dealers (-0.6%). The largest increase in the motor vehicle and parts dealers subsector came from other motor vehicle dealers (+2.5%).

Sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors (-0.5%) were down in June. In volume terms, sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors increased 2.6%.

Core retail sales rise

Following a decrease of 1.3% in May, core retail sales were up 0.4% in June on higher sales at food and beverage retailers (+1.2%), which were led by gains at supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers) (+1.8%). Gains at beer, wine and liquor retailers (+0.4%) and specialty food retailers (+0.5%) were offset by lower sales at convenience retailers and vending machine operators (-1.9%).

The largest decrease in core retail sales in June came from sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers (-0.8%).

Chart 2 
Sales decrease in four of nine subsectors in June

Sales down in seven provinces

Retail sales decreased in seven provinces in June. The largest provincial decrease was observed in Ontario (-0.4%), led by lower sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers. In the census metropolitan area of Toronto, sales were up 0.3%.

In Manitoba, retail sales decreased 2.2% in June, led by lower sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers.

The largest provincial increase in retail sales in June was observed in Newfoundland and Labrador (+0.2%). This increase was led by higher sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors.

Retail e-commerce sales in Canada

On a seasonally adjusted basis, retail e-commerce sales were down 2.4% to $3.8 billion in June, accounting for 5.7% of total retail trade, compared with 5.8% in May.

Advance retail indicator

Statistics Canada is providing an advance estimate of retail sales, which suggests that sales increased 0.6% in July. Owing to its early nature, this figure will be revised. This unofficial estimate was calculated based on responses received from 53.4% of companies surveyed. The average final response rate for the survey over the previous 12 months was 89.6%.

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).