Retail trade, December 2024

Released: 2025-02-21

Retail sales increased 2.5% to $69.6 billion in December. Sales were up in all nine subsectors and were led by increases at food and beverage retailers and motor vehicle and parts dealers.

Core retail sales—which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers—were up 2.5% in December.

In volume terms, retail sales increased 2.5% in December.

Retail sales were up 2.4% in the fourth quarter of 2024, marking a second consecutive quarterly increase. In volume terms, retail sales increased 1.8% in the fourth quarter.

In 2024, retail sales increased 1.3%, led by gains at motor vehicle and parts dealers. In volume terms, sales were up 0.7% in 2024.

Chart 1 
Retail sales increase in December

Core retail sales rise

Following a decrease of 1.0% in November, core retail sales increased 2.5% in December on higher sales at food and beverage retailers (+3.5%). The increase in this subsector was led by gains at supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers), which were up 3.9% in December following a decline of 2.0% in November. Higher receipts at beer, wine and liquor retailers (+3.9%) and specialty food retailers (+2.4%) in December also contributed to the increase at food and beverage retailers.

Higher sales were also recorded at general merchandise retailers (+3.2%) and clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers (+3.1%) in December.

Sales up at motor vehicle and parts dealers

Sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers (+1.9%) were up in December on the strength of higher sales at new car dealers (+2.0%), which posted their third consecutive monthly increase. Sales gains were also recorded at automotive parts, accessories and tire retailers (+4.7%) and used car dealers (+3.2%).

Sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors (+4.2%) increased in December for a second consecutive month. In volume terms, sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors increased 0.7%.

Chart 2 
Sales increase in all subsectors in December

Sales up in all provinces

Retail sales increased in all provinces in December, led by higher sales in Quebec (+3.6%) and Ontario (+2.0%).

After declining 0.1% in November, retail sales in Quebec (+3.6%) were up in December. In the Montréal census metropolitan area (CMA), retail sales increased 2.4%.

The gain in Ontario (+2.0%) in December was primarily attributable to higher sales at food and beverage retailers. In the CMA of Toronto, retail sales were up 1.1%.

Retail e-commerce sales in Canada

On a seasonally adjusted basis, retail e-commerce sales increased 3.1% to $4.3 billion in December, accounting for 6.1% of total retail trade.

Retail sales in 2024

Canadian retailers finished 2024 with $803.1 billion in sales, up 1.3% from 2023, and increases were observed in five of the nine subsectors. Leading the gain in retail sales in 2024 were higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers (+2.9%), which were driven by gains at new car dealers (+3.7%). The largest decrease in retail sales in 2024 was observed at gasoline stations and fuel vendors (-2.5%), largely the result of lower gasoline prices in 2024 compared with 2023.

Core retail sales increased 1.3% in 2024, led by higher sales at general merchandise retailers (+3.9%) and health and personal care retailers (+4.6%). Sales were also up at food and beverage retailers (+0.9%) on higher sales at supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers) (+2.0%), which saw gains in seven months in 2024.

Advance retail indicator

Statistics Canada is providing an advance estimate of retail sales, which suggests that sales decreased 0.4% in January 2025. Owing to its early nature, this figure will be revised. This unofficial estimate was calculated based on responses received from 57.7% of companies surveyed. The average final response rate for the survey over the previous 12 months was 88.2%.

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).