Retail Sales Up 1% in September
Source: CBC News
Posted: 11/23/09 9:44AM
Filed Under: Canada
Retail sales rose a full per cent to $34.9 billion in September, their seventh increase in nine months.
The increases were widespread with six of eight sectors showing gains, Statistics Canada said Monday.
In volume terms, retail sales increased 1.2 per cent.
Following a sharp decline at the end of 2008, retail sales have been rising since the beginning of 2009. But September sales were still 3.3 per cent lower than they were in September 2008.
The automotive sector was up one per cent, with all components recording higher sales. The two per cent gain in used and recreational motor vehicles and parts was a particular source of strength, the data agency noted.
Excluding the automotive sector, retail sales rose 1.1 per cent in September, the largest gain since January 2009.
The main contributor to this increase was the food-and-beverage sector, where store sales rose 1.3 per cent.
The largest increase was at general merchandise stores, where sales rose 1.9 per cent.
After four months of flat sales, sales by miscellaneous retailers rose 1.7 per cent.
Sales in the furniture, home furnishings and electronics stores sector increased 1.2 per cent its largest increase since July 2008.
Sales declined at building and outdoor home supplies stores (down 0.2 per cent) and clothing and accessories stores (down 0.1).
Regionally, sales rose in eight provinces in September. Quebec, with a 2.2 per cent increase, was the largest contributor. It was the province's fourth rise in the last five months.
The two provinces where retail sales did not increase were Saskatchewan and Alberta. Sales fell 0.9 per cent in Saskatchewan in September, partially offsetting the increase in August.
Sales were flat in Alberta, following two months of declines.
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