Statscan - Retail sales totalled $107.8 billion in the second quarter, down 5.2% from the second quarter of 2008. The main contributors were lower sales of automotive fuels, oils and additives, as well as motor vehicles, parts and services. Excluding these two categories, retail sales were up 0.7%.

Most of the year-over-year decline came from a 28.2% decrease in sales of automotive fuels, oils and additives. This mainly reflects changes in the price of gasoline at the pump.

Sales of motor vehicles (new and used), parts and services were down 10.7%. The value of sales of new cars and trucks, which include light and heavy trucks, vans, minivans and sport utility vehicles, declined 15.0%. This reflects both fewer new vehicles sold and lower prices. The value of used vehicles sold fell 8.5%, while sales of automotive parts, accessories and services were down 1.2%.

The largest year-over-year increase in the second quarter was a 7.5% rise in sales of food and beverages. This was led by an 8.6% gain in food sales. Prices of food purchased from stores rose 7.4% during the period, according to the Consumer Price Index.

Sales of health and personal care products rose 3.5%. The main factor was a 5.7% increase in sales of prescription drugs.

Sales of furniture, home furnishings and electronics decreased 9.4%. The largest category within this grouping, indoor furniture sales (-8.1%), contributed the most to this decline, followed by sales of home furnishings (-12.8%).

Sales levels of hardware, lawn and garden products were relatively unchanged from the second quarter of 2008. Lower sales of lumber and other building materials more than offset higher sales in the rest of the hardware and lawn and garden products category.