May retail sales remain steady

Retail sales increased 0.2% to $66 billion in May with sales increasing in five of nine subsectors led by increases at motor vehicle and parts dealers (+0.8%) and food and beverage retailers (+1.0%), says Statistics Canada. Core retail sales – which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers – were unchanged in May. Higher receipts were reported at food and beverage retailers (+1.0%) and, to a lesser extent, sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers (+0.8%). Offsetting these gains were lower sales at general merchandise retailers (-0.7%), building materials and garden equipment and supplies dealers (-1.5%), and clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewellery, luggage, and leather goods retailers (-0.8%). Retail sales increased in six provinces in May, led by higher sales in British Columbia (+2.7%) and, to a lesser extent, Alberta (+2.0%). As well, on a seasonally adjusted basis, retail e-commerce sales were up 2.1% to $3.7 billion in May, accounting for 5.6% of total retail trade compared with 5.5% in April.