Zata Blog

Retail trade
April 2007

Total retail sales increased moderately in April on the strength of new car dealers’ sales. Excluding new, used and recreational vehicles and parts dealers, retail sales were flat.

Retail sales advanced 0.4% in April to an estimated $34.1 billion. This moderate growth was the third monthly increase in a row for Canadian retailers. Higher sales at new car dealers were the largest contributor to April’s gains.

The automotive sector saw sales gains of 1.6% in April, building on a strong 3.6% increase in March. Aside from the automotive sector, only two other sectors registered increases in April. Sales grew 1.1% in furniture, home furnishings and electronic stores, the sixth consecutive monthly gain. The food and beverage stores sector posted back-to-back gains of 0.8% in March and April after a strong increase of 1.5% in February.

Partially offsetting these increases were declines in the following sectors: building and outdoor home supplies stores (-2.7%), miscellaneous retailers (-2.1%), clothing and accessories stores (-1.0%), general merchandise stores (-0.8%) and pharmacies and personal care stores (-0.3%).

Source: Stats Can