Retail sales in current dollars decreased by 0.8% in April to $33.5 billion

Statscan - April sales offsetted, in part, three consecutive increases. Sales declined in five of eight sectors, led by a 1.9% decrease in the automotive sector. Food and beverage stores followed with a 1.0% decline. These two sectors represent close to 60% of sales each month.

Retail sales in volume terms decreased 0.6%, offsetting the increase in March.

All three components of the automotive sector were down in April. The 1.8% decline in sales at new car dealers reflects lower values of new motor vehicles sold, as unit sales were essentially unchanged from March. Sales at used and recreational motor vehicle and parts dealers (-2.4%) declined for the sixth consecutive month. Gasoline stations registered a 1.9% decrease in sales.

After three months of increases, sales at food and beverage stores declined 1.0%. For the first time in over a year, the price of food purchased at stores edged down, according to the Consumer Price Index. Sales at supermarkets were down 0.7%, while beer, wine and liquor stores (-1.7%) registered their first monthly decline in 2009.

Furniture, home furnishings and electronics stores posted their ninth consecutive monthly decline in April with a 0.8% decrease in sales. Since July 2008, sales in this sector have fallen 11.4%. The continuing decline in the sector comes from lower sales volumes at furniture stores and home electronics and appliance stores.

Sales at general merchandise stores, the third largest retail sector in terms of sales, increased 0.5%. These stores have seen their sales increase slowly but steadily since the beginning of the year. The other sectors where sales rose in April were miscellaneous retailers (+0.7%) and building and outdoor home supplies stores (+0.3%).
Central Canada drags sales down

Retail sales were down in six provinces in April. Declines in Quebec (-2.5%) and Ontario (-1.1%) had the most impact on sales at the national level. This downward pull on overall sales followed two months where these two provinces were largely responsible for the gains.

Higher sales in British Columbia (+1.3%) and Alberta (+0.6%) offset some of the declines. These increases follow declines in five of the previous seven months.

The largest growth rate was observed in Prince Edward Island, where sales rose 1.7%, following a similar increase in March.

Note to readers

Total retail sales by volume are measured by deflating values in current dollars of the various trade groups using consumer price indexes. This retail sales in chained dollars series (2002) is a chain Fisher volume index with 2002 as the reference year.