OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says retail sales rose 1.3 per cent to $40.7 billion in January, partially offsetting a decline in December.
The agency says gains were reported in seven of 11 subsectors, representing 83 per cent of total retail sales.
In January, six subsectors experienced a bounce back from lower sales in December, led by a 2.2 per cent increase at motor vehicle and parts dealers.
A 7.0 per cent sales increase at building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers almost offset the weather-influenced decline in December.
The largest decline in dollar terms was in the health and personal care stores subsector, where sales were off 1.3 per cent, the first decrease since February 2013.
Retail sales rose in nine provinces in January, after falling in every province in December. Quebec was the only province to post a decline, falling 0.1 per cent.
Comments