(Ottawa) Canada’s retail sales fell 2.1% in May from the previous month to $53.8 billion.
Sales fell in 8 of the 11 sub-sectors, accounting for 65.6% of retail.
Statistics Canada indicated that the largest drop, 11.3%, occurred among dealers of building materials and garden equipment. Sales at auto and parts dealers fell 2.4%.
The federal agency states that in May, many retailers continued to close their doors due to the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sales increased 0.8% in food stores, driven by a 1% increase in sales at supermarkets and grocery stores and a 0.8% increase in beer, wine and liquor stores.
Sales at petrol stations rose 0.9% as gasoline prices rose in May.
Quebec recorded the second largest decline in retail sales at the provincial level, at 2.5%. The 3.5% decrease was measured in the Montreal region. In Ontario, sales fell 2.1%.
In Nova Scotia, sales from April to May fell 12.5%, the largest among provinces and territories. The decrease was 2.9% in Prince Edward Island and 1.5% in New Brunswick.
Given the rapidly changing economic situation, Statistics Canada provides advance estimates for retail sales which indicate that they increased by 4.4% in June.
Natalie Sinclair is a contributor at Vaughantoday.ca, covering a wide range of topics including local news, politics, business, technology, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, accurate reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current events and issues that matter to their communities. Her work highlights timely developments, relevant stories, and practical insights in a professional and reader-friendly manner.