E-commerce sales grow 3.3% in September, now accounting for 6.2% of Canada’s total retail trade
Retail sales in Canada rose 0.4 percent to $66.9bn in September, according to Statistics Canada.
The increase was driven by higher sales at food and beverage retailers, with gains recorded in six of nine subsectors.
Core retail sales, excluding gasoline stations, fuel vendors, and motor vehicle and parts dealers, grew 1.4 percent in September. In volume terms, retail sales increased 0.8 percent.
For the third quarter, retail sales rose 0.9 percent, while volume sales were up 1.3 percent.
Core retail sales rebounded by 1.4 percent in September after a 0.5 percent decline in August, primarily due to growth at food and beverage retailers, which saw sales increase 3.0 percent.
Gains were led by supermarkets and other grocery retailers, which grew 3.3 percent, reversing a 1.9 percent drop in August.
Sales at beer, wine, and liquor retailers rose 4.4 percent, marking their first increase in three months.
Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers also recorded a 3.0 percent increase in sales.
Clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewellery, luggage, and leather goods retailers saw a decline of 0.8 percent, the only decrease in core retail sales.
Sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors fell 2.3 percent in September, marking the fifth consecutive monthly decline. In volume terms, sales at gasoline stations rose 3.2 percent.
Motor vehicle and parts dealers recorded a 0.7 percent decline in sales, led by lower sales at new car dealers, which fell 0.7 percent, and used car dealers, down 5.2 percent.
Sales at other motor vehicle dealers declined 2.0 percent, but automotive parts, accessories, and tire retailers saw a 4.2 percent increase.
Retail sales increased in five provinces in September.
Alberta recorded the largest increase at 2.3 percent, driven by higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers.
Quebec reported a 0.6 percent rise, with sales in Montréal up 0.3 percent. Ontario recorded the largest provincial decline at 0.1 percent, driven by lower sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers. Sales in Toronto were unchanged.
Seasonally adjusted retail e-commerce sales grew 3.3 percent to $4.1bn in September, accounting for 6.2 percent of total retail trade, up from 6.0 percent in August.
An advance estimate from Statistics Canada suggests retail sales increased 0.7 percent in October. This estimate, based on responses from 58.9 percent of surveyed companies, is subject to revision. The average final response rate for the survey over the past 12 months was 88.9 percent.
