Statistics Canada figures show that seasonally adjusted retail sales in January were up 1.9% over the previous month. Sales rose by $635 million or about $20 per capita. Out of 18 categories, 13 showed improved January sales with new car dealers at the front of the line with a 6.4% or $317 million improvement. The one month figures are a welcome improvement as the data for 12 months show a 5.8% decline with 11 of the 18 categories losing sales. The stores that had sales increases in both periods were supermarkets, convenience and specialty foods, beer, wine and liquor, pharmacies and personal care, general merchandise and sporting goods, hobby, music & books. Below is a table showing the data for three months and the one month and one year changes. All sales figures are in $ millions.
| |
Jan |
Dec. |
Jan. |
1 month |
1 year |
| |
2008 |
2008 |
2009 |
% Change |
% change |
| New car dealers |
6,635 |
4,982 |
5,299 |
6.4 |
-20.1 |
| Used Cars, RVs and parts |
1,694 |
1,569 |
1,540 |
-1.8 |
-9.1 |
| Gasoline stations |
4,326 |
3,413 |
3,503 |
2.6 |
-19 |
| Furniture |
863 |
803 |
795 |
-1 |
-7.9 |
| Home furnishings |
524 |
451 |
449 |
-0.5 |
-14.3 |
| Computer and software |
117 |
101 |
104 |
3.7 |
-10.7 |
| Home electronics & appliances |
1,083 |
1,097 |
1,086 |
-1 |
0.3 |
| Home centres & hardware |
1,832 |
1,718 |
1,686 |
-1.9 |
-8 |
| Specialized building materials & garden |
433 |
411 |
414 |
0.7 |
-4.4 |
| Supermarkets |
5,590 |
5,856 |
5,983 |
2.2 |
7 |
| Convenience & specialty food |
839 |
841 |
849 |
0.8 |
1.1 |
| Beer, wine & liquor |
1,377 |
1,365 |
1,402 |
2.7 |
1.8 |
| Pharmacies & personal care |
2,413 |
2,423 |
2,472 |
2 |
2.5 |
| Clothing |
1,559 |
1,466 |
1,506 |
2.7 |
-3.4 |
| Shoe, clothing accessories & jewellery |
468 |
436 |
453 |
3.8 |
-3.2 |
| General merchandise |
4,176 |
4,320 |
4,322 |
0 |
3.5 |
| Sporting goods, hobby, music & books |
888 |
894 |
901 |
0.9 |
1.5 |
| Miscellaneous retailers |
910 |
883 |
902 |
2.1 |
-0.9 |
| Total retail sales |
35,728 |
33,031 |
33,666 |
1.9 |
-5.8 |
Blogs & Comment
Retail Sales Show Improvement
By CB Staff
Statistics Canada figures show that seasonally adjusted retail sales in January were up 1.9% over the previous month. Sales rose by $635 million or about $20 per capita. Out of 18 categories, 13 showed improved January sales with new car dealers at the front of the line with a 6.4% or $317 million improvement. The one month figures are a welcome improvement as the data for 12 months show a 5.8% decline with 11 of the 18 categories losing sales. The stores that had sales increases in both periods were supermarkets, convenience and specialty foods, beer, wine and liquor, pharmacies and personal care, general merchandise and sporting goods, hobby, music & books. Below is a table showing the data for three months and the one month and one year changes. All sales figures are in $ millions.