Retail sales edged down for the second month in a row, slipping 0.2% to $32.5 billion in June. Nevertheless, retail spending continued to grow at a fast rate in the second quarter (+2.3%), though sales were inflated by a spike in gasoline prices.

Keeping prices constant, retail sales edged up 0.2% in June as automobile prices fell.

Sales in the automotive sector fell for a second time in a row (-0.8%) after two strong increases in March (+3.5%) and April (+4.3%). Retail spending in the general merchandise sector, which includes department stores and other general merchandise stores, declined 1.4% in June.

These declines were partly offset by increased sales in pharmacies and personal care stores (+1.4%), which rose for the eighth consecutive month in June. Retail sales in the building and outdoor home supplies stores sector were 0.8% higher in June compared to May. Sales grew by 1.0% in the second quarter for retailers in this sector after a robust 5.4% increase in the first quarter.

Marginal gains or losses were experienced by furniture, home furnishings and electronic stores (+0.4%), food and beverage stores (+0.2%), clothing and accessories stores (-0.2%) and miscellaneous retailers (+0.1%).

Excluding new car dealers and used and recreational motor vehicles and parts dealers, total retail sales remained relatively flat (+0.1%) in June.

Declines in the automotive and general merchandise stores sectors more than offset gains elsewhere

Sales in the automotive sector were largely pulled down by weaker sales at new car dealers (-1.4%) in June. Sales at used and recreational motor vehicle and parts dealers also slowed down (-0.7%) after large increases in March (+4.8%) and April (+8.1%).

Gasoline station sales remained steady (+0.1%) as prices showed relatively small changes in June (-0.4%), according to the Consumer Price Index.

Although sales in the automotive sector fell in June, this did not prevent quarterly sales in this sector from soaring 3.9% to the highest quarter-to-quarter increase in over four years. This gain was driven mainly by higher sales at gasoline stations and used and recreational motor vehicle and parts dealers. In contrast, sales at new car dealers have been generally flat since last fall.

The other major contributor to the decline in total retail sales in June was the slowdown in retail spending in general merchandise stores (-1.4%). This was the first drop in sales in 10 months for retailers in this sector. Since spiking in January (+3.5%), gains in this sector have been relatively moderate.

Pharmacies and personal care stores posted their highest year-over-year sales increase in 10 years (+13.2%) in June. Sales have declined only three times since June 2004. Sales of prescription drugs were the main driver for the growth in this sector. According to the Retail Commodity Survey, prescription drugs accounted for 55.0% of drug store sales in 2005, up sharply from 45.5% in 1998.

Within the building and outdoor home supplies stores sector, sales in home centres and hardware stores picked up again (+1.6%) after pausing for two months. Though the annual rate of increase has been declining since 2003, these types of stores have maintained double digit annual sales growth in the previous four years.

Sales down in most provinces

Sales were down in most provinces and territories in June, except for Ontario (+0.3%), Alberta (+0.5%) and Nunavut (+0.5%).

Retail sales in British Columbia fell 1.4% in June after gains of 1.4% in both April and May. In general, sales in this province have been growing steadily since 2004 after a period of relative flatness.

The Atlantic provinces all posted lower sales in June compared to May. The largest decline was in Nova Scotia (-3.8%), partly due to lower sales in the automotive sector. Sales in Prince Edward Island fell by 2.6%, in part due to lower sales at gasoline stations. Gasoline prices in Prince Edward Island posted the largest decline in June (-4.9%), according to the Consumer Price Index. Sales were down 1.2% in both Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick.

Related indicators for July

Employment was unchanged for the second consecutive month in July, as gains in full-time employment were offset by similar declines in part-time employment. There was a jump in the number of people entering the labour force in search of work in July. This pushed the unemployment rate up 0.3 percentage points to 6.4%, still among the lowest in 30 years.

The seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts was 236,500 units in July, up a marginal 100 units from June, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Based on preliminary sales figures from the auto industry, the number of new motor vehicles sold rebounded by about 3% in July. These preliminary estimates indicate the increase was the result of truck sales rising after several months of declines. New passenger car sales, on the other hand, are estimated to have declined slightly in July.

Wholesale sales fell for a second time in three months (-0.6%) in June, pulled down by lower sales in the automotive sector. Wholesalers sold $41.5 billion worth of goods and services. Excluding the automotive sector, sales declined 0.3%. Weak wholesale sales in these past months sharply curtailed the growth for the quarter ending in June compared to the previous two quarters.

Since the fall of 2003, wholesalers have experienced a period of steady growth. Previously, decreasing sales of motor vehicles were the main cause of a decline that began in April 2003.

Sales contracted in three of the seven sectors in June, accounting for approximately 49% of total sales. Decreases were registered in the automotive sector (-2.1%), the "other products" category (-2.3%) and the food, beverages and tobacco products sector (-0.8%). The sectors showing the largest gains were building materials (+0.6%) and farm products (+4.7%).

In constant dollars, wholesale sales declined 0.6% in June.

Quarterly growth slows

Sales for the quarter ending in June showed a lower growth rate than in the previous two quarters. In the second quarter, sales grew only 0.5% compared to increases of 2.9% and 2.5% in the previous two quarters. Substantial declines in sales of lumber (-8.1%), motor vehicles (-2.2%) and office and professional equipment (-3.0%) explain in part the low growth in the second quarter. These three groups all recorded strong growth in the first quarter.

Sales down in both components of automotive sector

Wholesalers in the automotive sector were unable to hold onto all the gains made in May (+2.7%), with sales falling 2.1% to $8.2 billion in June, the fourth decline in five months.

Wholesale sales of motor vehicles fell 1.5% in June, a fourth decline in five months. These decreases are partly due to falling demand in North America for different models of motor vehicles, stemming from consumers' reaction to rising gas prices and climbing interest rates. The lack of major promotions or incentive programs in the past six months may also have contributed to the weakness in sales.

Wholesale sales of motor vehicle parts also declined in June (-5.1%). This drop more than offset the 4.2% increase in May. Wholesalers in this industry, who sell primarily to retailers and dealers, have registered generally stable sales since March 2004.

First decline in four months for the "other products" sector

After increases in the previous three months, sales of "other products" declined 2.3% in June. This decrease was attributable in part to weak sales of chemical products and some products relating to the agriculture industry. In previous months, the sector had strongly benefited from sales of recycled metals.

Average monthly growth, which had been very strong until May 2005, began to slow after that, partly owing to a sharp decrease in exports of some products, such as fertilizers and seed materials. Conversely, wholesalers of recycled metals and general merchandise experienced very strong growth during this period.

Wholesale sales in the building materials sector continue to advance

After rising 1.2% in May, sales of building materials advanced 0.6% in June. Two groups in this sector are responsible for the increase in June.

Sales of metal products (+4.3%) posted a fourth consecutive increase in June. Since September 2005, this group has followed an upward trend after a period of declines that began in December 2004. This strong showing is partly due to a sizable increase in metal prices during this period.

Wholesale sales in the building materials group edged up 0.2% in June. This group has experienced a period of practically uninterrupted growth since the fall of 2003, as a result of the strong performance of the renovation and construction market in Canada.

Sales among lumber and millwork (-2.6%) wholesalers fell for the fourth time in five months. This downward movement is largely related to declining activity in the residential construction sector in the United States. According to the US Commerce Department, new home sales in the United States were down 3% in June compared to May and down 11% compared to June 2005. Furthermore, the number of unsold homes was up sharply. Canadian wholesalers are responsible for nearly 30% of lumber exports.

Farm products sector posts first increase in eight months

After seven consecutive decreases, wholesale sales of farm products made up some lost ground in June (+4.7%) on the strength of increased exports of live animals (+15.0%). Wholesalers in this group strongly benefited from the United States reopening the border in July 2005 to cattle under 30 months of age. Live animal exports then rose quickly, peaking in October 2005. In the months that followed, cattle exports declined.

Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan post steepest decreases

Prince Edward Island wholesalers saw their sales tumble 14.7% in June, wiping out the gains of the previous two months. A large decrease in sales of food products, especially fish-related products, was largely responsible for the decrease in that province. Prior to the decline in June, wholesale sales had been recovering since February 2006. This followed a strong period of contraction that began in the second quarter of 2005.

Wholesale sales in Saskatchewan also fell in June (-5.5%), as a result of lower sales of machinery and equipment and of "other products" (including seed and fertilizer, as well as agricultural chemicals).

Apart from the territories, only Alberta (+2.4%) and Quebec (+1.5%) posted gains in June. In Quebec, the increase was generalized among sectors. Alberta showed strongly increased sales of machinery and equipment as well as building materials. Together, these two groups account for approximately half of the total sales of that province. Since September 2003, Alberta's total wholesale sales have generally been rising.

Inventories increase

After remaining relatively unchanged in May (-0.1%), inventories rose 0.8% in June. The trend in total inventories has generally been upward since November 2003. May's decrease is essentially attributable to the 3.2% decline in machinery and equipment inventories.

The inventory-to-sales ratio edged up from 1.22 in May to 1.23 in June. This ratio has generally been stable since February 2005. Previously, it went through a period of declines that began in October 2003.

Wholesale merchants' sales
	June 2005	March 2006r	April 2006r	May 2006r	June 2006p	May to June 2006	June 2005 to June 2006
	Seasonally adjusted
	$ millions					% change
Total, wholesale sales	39,365	41,543	41,421	41,788	41,520	-0.6	5.5
Farm products	415	414	409	377	395	4.7	-5.0
Food, beverages and tobacco products	7,222	7,410	7,543	7,577	7,517	-0.8	4.1
Food products	6,608	6,721	6,883	6,917	6,882	-0.5	4.1
Alcohol and tobacco	614	689	659	660	636	-3.6	3.5
Personal and household goods	5,659	5,963	5,993	6,014	6,032	0.3	6.6
Apparel	850	731	778	776	761	-2.0	-10.5
Household and personal products	2,333	2,597	2,543	2,603	2,645	1.6	13.4
Pharmaceuticals	2,476	2,635	2,672	2,635	2,627	-0.3	6.1
Automotive products	7,596	8,163	8,128	8,346	8,169	-2.1	7.5
Motor vehicles	6,033	6,645	6,642	6,798	6,699	-1.5	11.0
Motor vehicle parts and accessories	1,562	1,518	1,486	1,548	1,470	-5.1	-5.9
Building materials	5,468	5,944	5,870	5,933	5,969	0.6	9.2
Building supplies	3,265	3,555	3,507	3,567	3,575	0.2	9.5
Metal products	1,094	1,216	1,242	1,295	1,350	4.3	23.4
Lumber and millwork	1,109	1,174	1,120	1,071	1,043	-2.6	-5.9
Machinery and electronic equipment	8,334	8,839	8,604	8,651	8,660	0.1	3.9
Machinery and equipment	3,885	4,207	4,104	4,106	4,162	1.4	7.1
Computer and other electronic equipment	2,651	2,595	2,637	2,607	2,610	0.1	-1.6
Office and professional equipment	1,798	2,036	1,862	1,938	1,888	-2.6	5.0
Other products	4,670	4,810	4,874	4,891	4,777	-2.3	2.3
Total, excluding automobiles	31,769	33,380	33,293	33,442	33,351	-0.3	5.0
Sales, province and territory
Newfoundland and Labrador	222	219	224	226	223	-1.3	0.4
Prince Edward Island	49	36	37	41	35	-14.7	-27.3
Nova Scotia	514	521	531	539	522	-3.2	1.5
New Brunswick	415	405	415	407	403	-1.2	-3.1
Quebec	7,607	7,742	7,735	7,773	7,893	1.5	3.8
Ontario	19,936	21,161	21,155	21,364	20,993	-1.7	5.3
Manitoba	1,058	959	990	1,008	989	-1.9	-6.5
Saskatchewan	1,097	1,083	1,058	1,095	1,035	-5.5	-5.6
Alberta	4,489	5,145	5,102	5,125	5,248	2.4	16.9
British Columbia	3,948	4,234	4,146	4,180	4,150	-0.7	5.1
Yukon	7	14	8	8	8	2.5	13.5
Northwest Territories	19	20	18	18	18	3.2	-3.9
Nunavut	3	2	2	2	3	9.4	-25.5
r revised p preliminary

Wholesale merchants' inventories and inventory-to-sales ratio
	June 2005	March 2006r	April 2006r	May 2006r	June 2006p	May to June 2006	June 2005 to June 2006	May 2006r	June 2006p
	Wholesale inventories							Inventory-to-sales ratio
	Seasonally adjusted
	$ millions					% change
Inventories	47,427	49,944	50,896	50,854	51,247	0.8	8.1	1.22	1.23
Farm products	177	157	159	165	183	10.9	3.7	0.44	0.46
Food products	4,422	4,249	4,257	4,294	4,333	0.9	-2.0	0.62	0.63
Alcohol and tobacco	269	277	275	281	279	-0.7	3.6	0.43	0.44
Apparel	1,605	1,514	1,552	1,617	1,651	2.1	2.9	2.08	2.17
Household and personal products	3,601	3,675	3,841	3,968	3,921	-1.2	8.9	1.52	1.48
Pharmaceuticals	2,938	3,022	3,044	3,117	3,064	-1.7	4.3	1.18	1.17
Motor vehicles	4,173	4,764	5,007	4,866	4,716	-3.1	13.0	0.72	0.70
Motor vehicle parts and accessories	3,097	3,186	3,163	3,143	3,159	0.5	2.0	2.03	2.15
Building supplies	4,893	5,468	5,511	5,503	5,554	0.9	13.5	1.54	1.55
Metal products	2,385	2,439	2,509	2,685	2,791	4.0	17.0	2.07	2.07
Lumber and millwork	1,192	1,058	988	1,057	1,061	0.4	-11.0	0.99	1.02
Machinery and equipment	8,910	10,094	10,320	10,282	10,616	3.2	19.2	2.50	2.55
Computer and other electronic equipment	1,433	1,505	1,693	1,569	1,583	0.9	10.5	0.60	0.61
Office and professional equipment	2,423	2,432	2,469	2,456	2,485	1.2	2.5	1.27	1.32
Other products	5,908	6,104	6,108	5,853	5,850	-0.1	-1.0	1.20	1.22
r revised p preliminary

Sales of $26.0 billion - Net Earnings of $1.86 billion, Earnings per share of $0.90; $0.93 excluding one-time tax charge

ATLANTA - The Home Depot(R), the world's largest home improvement retailer, today reported second quarter net earnings of $1.86 billion, or 90 cents per diluted share, up 9.8 percent compared to the same period in fiscal 2005.

During the second quarter, the Quebec National Assembly passed legislation that retroactively changed certain tax laws that subject the Company to additional tax and interest. As a result, the Company received an assessment from Quebec for $69 million in retroactive tax and related interest for the 2002 through 2005 taxable years. Excluding this $0.03 per share one-time charge, the Company reported, on an adjusted basis, 93 cents per diluted share, up 13.4 percent, compared to 82 cents per diluted share for the same period in fiscal 2005.

Sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2006 totaled $26.0 billion, a 16.7 percent increase from the second quarter of fiscal 2005.

Total sales in the Retail segment grew 5.1 percent to $22.6 billion, reflecting new stores and comparable store sales of -0.2 percent. Total sales in the Supply segment grew by 325 percent to $3.5 billion, driven by recent acquisitions, including Hughes Supply, as well as double-digit organic growth.

"I am grateful for the hard work and dedication of our associates and for their focus on taking care of our customers," said Bob Nardelli, chairman, president & CEO. "We are committed to providing the best possible shopping experience for our customers and, as a result, are accelerating investment in merchandising, in store appearance and in our associates."

Accelerated retail investments to enhance the shopping experience include:

* Increasing Associate Availability: 5.5 million hours in U.S. stores in the back half of the year

* Rapid Refresh: a 100 bay reset to be completed by year-end in 540 stores * Big Hits: merchandising resets including hand tools, special order ceramic tile and appliance mezzanines in selected stores

* Store Modernization: the completion of self-checkout in all stores; belted checkstands, customer service callboxes and enhanced store appearance in selected stores

* Technology: the completion of the rollout of the Special Order Service Initiative to all flooring departments and the continued investment in Core Retail merchandising systems

* "Orange Juiced": a $30 million customer service incentive program for associates and stores that deliver improved customer service

* Customer Service Hotline: the introduction of 1-800-Home Depot, an enhanced 24-hour customer service hotline

The Beer Store directly operates 441 stores throughout Ontario and services 17,500 licensed bars, hotels and restaurants, and 600 government-owned retail outlets.

“With over 1,000 systems, our retail and distribution centre employees’ abilities to satisfy customer demand dictates an IT infrastructure that can provide fast, efficient service to all of our retail and wholesale customers, seven days a week,” says Glenn Wood, director of Information Services for The Beer Store. “The partnership with NCR helps us achieve this goal through outstanding hardware and software support as well as highly-detailed service analysis, which we use to improve system performance and reduce cost.”

“NCR’s Managed Services solution combines quality service management with highly-detailed service intelligence to help The Beer Store drive operational improvement,” says Kevin Marshman, area general manager for NCR Worldwide Customer Services in Canada. “This service intelligence is driven from NCR’s unique IT architecture, which captures detailed data about all service events. Using our own Teradata® enterprise data warehouse, we then ‘mine’ data related to these service events to discover trends, pinpoint anomalies, and generate recommendations to help The Beer Store control IT costs, reduce service incidents and better serve their customers. It’s a win-win partnership.”

Ongoing service analysis is generated by a dedicated NCR Service Management Office (SMO) and managed by an NCR executive services manager. The SMO produces a variety of detailed monthly reports for The Beer Store. This includes a 13-month, rolling overview of NCR service performance against contractual objectives, data on parts availability/cost, service trends, and proactive analysis to pinpoint problems or highlight opportunities for operational improvement. This service intelligence enables The Beer Store to ensure the performance quality of their IT environment, reduce IT costs, and make more informed business decisions.

TORONTO - Sears Canada Inc. on June 27 announced its unaudited second quarter results. Total revenues for the 13-week period ended July 1, 2006 were $1.428 billion compared to $1.522 billion for the 13 weeks ended July 2, 2005, a decrease of 6.2%. The decrease in revenues was primarily due to the sale of the Credit and Financial Services operations in the fourth quarter of 2005. Same store sales decreased 3.0%.

Net earnings for the second quarter, including non-comparable items, were $18.1 million or 17 cents per share compared to $10.9 million or 10 cents per share in the same quarter last year. Net earnings for the quarter, excluding non-comparable items, were $27.7 million or 26 cents per share compared to $10.8 million or 10 cents per share in the quarter last year.

Gross margins for the quarter increased by 150 basis points. Total expenses were reduced by 14.1%, approximately 60% of which are related to the sale of the Credit and Financial Services operations. Inventory levels were down 2.4%.

The improvement in gross margins over the prior year period reflects lower promotional discounts, a favorable shift in sales mix as a higher proportion of sales were realized in the higher margin categories and channels, reduced inventory shrinkage costs and the stronger Canadian dollar. In addition, the quarter's margin rate was positively affected by a product cost reduction retroactive to the beginning of the year which was realized in the quarter.

Total revenues for the 26-week period ended July 1, 2006 were $2.650 billion compared to $2.843 billion for the same period last year, a decrease of 6.8%. Same store sales decreased 2.8%.

Net earnings for the first six months, including non-comparable items, were $6.3 million or 6 cents per share compared to $24.8 million or 23 cents per share for the same period last year. Net earnings for the six months, excluding non-comparable items, were $19.5 million or 18 cents per share compared to $7.0 million or 7 cents per share for the same period last year.

Gross margins for the first six months increased by 105 basis points over the same period last year. Total expenses were reduced by 13.4%, approximately 60% of which are related to the sale of the Credit and Financial Services operations.

The Board of Directors will consider the dividend declaration, if any, at a later date.

Keeping prices constant, retail sales still fell by 0.6%, as price changes did not have a significant effect on overall retail sales in May. In contrast to previous months, the Consumer Price Index indicated that gasoline prices were little changed in May (-0.8%).

Excluding new car dealers and used and recreational motor vehicles and parts dealers, total retail sales edged down 0.2% in May.

Sales in the automotive sector, which make up over one-third of total retail sales in Canada, fell by 2.1%. This retail sector, however, has generally been experiencing steady growth since 2004, partly due to the rising price of gasoline.

Food and beverage store (-0.6%) sales declined for the second time in six months. In general, retail sales in this sector have been growing slowly after recovering from January's drop earlier this year. The clothing and accessories stores sector also saw its sales edge down 0.3% in May. However, its sales were up 7.4% compared to the same month last year — the highest year-over-year increase since April 2005.

Increases in the other five retail sectors partially offset these declines. Sales in the furniture, home furnishings and electronics stores sector rose by 1.2% in May after falling by a similar amount in April. There were also strong increases in pharmacies and personal care stores (+1.3%) and general merchandise stores (+1.0%).

Sales were also higher in the building and outdoor home supplies stores sector (+0.5%) and the miscellaneous retailers sector (+0.2%).

Automotive sector sales decline after strong gains in the previous two months

All three sub-components of the automotive sector registered declines in sales in May. Gasoline sales fell by 2.7% after rising by 11.0% in April. Though the price of gasoline edged down in May, it has generally been rising since 2002, according to the Consumer Price Index. The year-over-year sales increase for gasoline was strong at 18.2%.

Sales by new car dealers fell by 1.7%. Despite recent fluctuations, new car sales have remained relatively flat since the incentive-induced peaks of the previous summer. Demand for new cars may have been dampened by rising interest rates and gasoline prices.

Sales at used and recreational motor vehicle and parts dealers fell by 2.0%. This was only the second sales decline in eight months for this sector and followed two months of strong sales growth. Sales were up 15.9% in May from the same month last year. This sector has been experiencing rapid sales growth since November of last year on the strength of recreational motor vehicle sales.

In the food and beverages sector, supermarket sales weakened by 0.8% in May. Sales in supermarkets have been relatively flat with low year-over-year gains since the fall of 2005, as restructuring of supply chains in some stores continued to have an effect on overall supermarket sales.

May's increase in sales at furniture stores (+0.8%) was the first since the peak in January. Though not at record levels, sales were still 9.4% higher than the same month last year — the highest year-over-year increase in two years with the exception of the gains in January.

May was also a good month for home furnishing stores (+1.8%) and home electronics and appliance stores (+1.3%). Sales at home furnishing stores have been see-sawing since the gift-card induced peak at the start of the year. In contrast, sales at home electronic stores and appliance stores have been relatively flat since January. In general, however, sales in these types of stores have been on the rise.

Pharmacies and personal care stores posted their seventh consecutive monthly sales increase in May. Sales in these types of stores picked up at a quicker pace since the start of 2006, reflecting increased demand for prescription drugs. According to the Retail Commodity Survey, sales of prescription drugs were 7.8% higher in the first quarter of 2006 than in the same quarter last year.

General merchandise stores, which include department stores and other general merchandise stores, also enjoyed sales gains in May, increasing for the ninth consecutive month. Sales have picked up the pace since the fall of 2005.

Ontarians put the breaks on shopping in May

Sales in Ontario declined by 1.9% in May after two consecutive monthly gains. The automotive sector was the main cause of the decrease in this province. The number of new cars sold in Ontario in May declined by 2.1% according to the New Motor Vehicle Sales Survey. Quebec retailers also experienced lower sales in May (-0.6%), the first decline in five months. Sales in Quebec have been rising after being relatively flat in 2005.

Consumers in Alberta took a shopping break in May as retail sales remained unchanged from April (+0.1%). Still, sales in Alberta's red-hot economy were 16.4% higher than in the same month last year as a result of a burst of retailing activity in the previous eight months.

Retail sales in British Columbia rose by 1.3% in May. Retailers in this province have been enjoying strong sales growth since 2003.

Consumer spending in retail stores in the Atlantic provinces edged up 0.2% in May, mainly due to increases in Nova Scotia (+0.7%) and Prince Edward Island (+1.3%).

Related indicators for June

Following large gains in the previous month, employment was little changed in June, leaving the unemployment rate at a 32-year low of 6.1%.

Housing starts were up 4.5% in June. Despite this increase, however, housing starts ended the second quarter more than 9% below their first quarter level.

Based on preliminary sales figures from the auto industry, the number of new motor vehicles sold declined slightly for a third consecutive month in June. Though there was a turn-around in car sales, this was offset by a sizable decrease in the sale of trucks, minivans, sport-utility vehicles and buses.

Retail sales
	May 2005	February 2006r	March 2006r	April 2006r	May 2006p	April to May 2006	May 2005 to May 2006
	Seasonally adjusted
	$ millions					% change
Automotive	10,237	10,623	10,999	11,478	11,239	-2.1	9.8
New car dealers	5,833	5,936	6,179	6,169	6,061	-1.7	3.9
Used and recreational motor vehicle and parts dealers	1,307	1,365	1,430	1,546	1,515	-2.0	15.9
Gasoline stations	3,097	3,323	3,390	3,763	3,662	-2.7	18.2
Furniture, home furnishings and electronics stores	2,098	2,293	2,299	2,272	2,300	1.2	9.6
Furniture stores	729	807	800	791	797	0.8	9.4
Home furnishings stores	390	440	456	446	454	1.8	16.5
Computer and software stores	129	133	129	125	126	1.1	-2.3
Home electronics and appliance stores	850	912	914	910	922	1.3	8.5
Building and outdoor home supplies stores	1,906	2,049	2,080	2,058	2,069	0.5	8.5
Home centres and hardware stores	1,519	1,650	1,686	1,685	1,689	0.2	11.2
Specialized building materials and garden stores	387	399	394	373	380	1.8	-1.9
Food and beverage stores	7,245	7,288	7,301	7,366	7,323	-0.6	1.1
Supermarkets	5,251	5,260	5,261	5,294	5,251	-0.8	0.0
Convenience and specialty food stores	774	775	781	790	796	0.7	2.8
Beer, wine and liquor stores	1,220	1,254	1,259	1,281	1,276	-0.4	4.6
Pharmacies and personal care stores	1,978	2,107	2,140	2,166	2,193	1.3	10.9
Clothing and accessories stores	1,747	1,831	1,866	1,881	1,876	-0.3	7.4
Clothing stores	1,338	1,394	1,426	1,432	1,444	0.8	7.9
Shoe, clothing accessories and jewellery stores	409	437	440	449	432	-3.7	5.7
General merchandise stores	3,599	3,850	3,882	3,909	3,947	1.0	9.7
Miscellaneous retailers	1,574	1,643	1,644	1,682	1,685	0.2	7.0
Sporting goods, hobby, music and book stores	782	820	827	840	838	-0.3	7.1
Miscellaneous store retailers	792	823	818	842	847	0.6	7.0
Total retail sales	30,384	31,685	32,212	32,812	32,631	-0.6	7.4
Total excluding new car dealers, used and recreational motor vehicle and parts dealers	23,244	24,384	24,603	25,097	25,054	-0.2	7.8
By province and territory
Newfoundland and Labrador	488	491	484	505	502	-0.7	2.8
Prince Edward Island	116	127	125	124	126	1.3	8.4
Nova Scotia	881	936	937	948	955	0.7	8.3
New Brunswick	680	730	743	743	743	-0.1	9.2
Quebec	6,908	7,112	7,175	7,296	7,255	-0.6	5.0
Ontario	11,045	11,353	11,704	11,859	11,639	-1.9	5.4
Manitoba	1,026	1,063	1,089	1,102	1,111	0.8	8.3
Saskatchewan	949	950	956	987	992	0.5	4.5
Alberta	4,046	4,488	4,526	4,705	4,708	0.1	16.4
British Columbia	4,138	4,327	4,366	4,433	4,491	1.3	8.5
Yukon	39	37	36	38	38	0.1	-1.9
Northwest Territories	48	50	49	50	51	2.3	7.3
Nunavut	20	21	21	21	21	0.7	2.9
r revised p preliminary

Retail sales
	May 2005	April 2006r	May 2006p	May 2005 to May 2006
	Unadjusted
	$ millions			% change
Automotive	11,708	12,088	13,143	12.3
New car dealers	6,868	6,697