Motor vehicle, food and beverage sectors dominate 2022 retail sales

Customers spent $815.5 billion at Canadian retailers in 2022, of which $63.7 billion was e-commerce revenue, says Statistics Canada.

More than half of retail operating revenue was generated in four subsectors: motor vehicle and parts dealers (25.7 percent), food and beverage retailers (18.6 percent), general merchandise retailers (12.2 percent), and gasoline stations and fuel vendors (11.3 percent).

General merchandise retailers, including warehouse clubs, supercentres, and other general merchandise retailers, generated $99.3 billion in operating revenue in 2022, with a profit margin of 6.1 percent.

Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers had total retail sales of $52.47 billion in 2022, with a gross margin of 32.8 percent. In-store sales were $46 billion; e-commerce sales were $3.22 billion; and catalogue, mail-order, or telephone sales were $2.16 billion.

The four largest provinces – Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta – accounted for the largest share of operating revenue, representing a combined $705.6 billion (86.5 percent) of the national total.