Retail trade, June 2023

Released: 2023-08-23

Retail sales increased 0.1% to $65.9 billion in June. Sales increased in three of nine subsectors and were led by increases at motor vehicle and parts dealers (+2.5%).

Core retail sales—which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers—were down 0.9% in June.

In volume terms, retail sales edged down 0.2% in June.

Retail sales were unchanged in the second quarter, while in volume terms, retail sales declined 0.8% in the second quarter.

Chart 1 
Retail sales increase in June

Sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers rise

Sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers (+2.5%) were up on the strength of higher sales at new car dealers (+2.9%) in June, their third consecutive monthly increase. This was followed by higher sales at other motor vehicle dealers (+5.9%). Gains at used car dealers (+0.9%) were more than offset by lower sales at automotive parts, accessories and tire stores (-3.3%).

Retail sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors rose 0.3% on higher prices at the pump in June. In volume terms, sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors declined 1.4%.

Core retail sales down for second consecutive month

Core retail sales (-0.9%) were down in June. Within the core retail subsectors, the largest sales declines were seen at general merchandise retailers (-1.4%) and food and beverage retailers (-0.9%). The decline at food and beverage retailers was primarily due to lower sales at beer, wine, and liquor retailers (-2.8%). Following six months of consecutive monthly increases, receipts at supermarkets and other grocery retailers (-0.4%) slowed in June.

Chart 2 
Sales increase in three of nine subsectors in June

Sales up in four provinces

Retail sales increased in four provinces in June, led by higher sales in Ontario (+1.7%) and, to a lesser extent, Quebec (+1.3%).

In Ontario (+1.7%), retail sales were up in June on the strength of higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers. In the census metropolitan area (CMA) of Toronto, retail sales were up 1.6%.

After decreasing 1.6% in May, retail sales in Quebec rose 1.3% in June. In the CMA of Montréal, retail sales were up 2.2%.

Following three consecutive monthly gains, retail sales in British Columbia (-4.8%) declined in June as lower sales were reported at motor vehicle and parts dealers. In the CMA of Vancouver, retail sales were down 3.1%.

Retail e-commerce sales in Canada

On a seasonally adjusted basis, retail e-commerce sales were up 1.1% to $3.7 billion in June, accounting for 5.7% of total retail trade, compared with 5.6% in May.

Advance retail indicator

Statistics Canada is providing an advance estimate of retail sales, which suggests that sales increased 0.4% in July. Owing to its early nature, this figure will be revised. This unofficial estimate was calculated based on responses received from 45.4% of companies surveyed. The average final response rate for the survey over the previous 12 months was 89.0%.

Contact information

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).