Canada’s retail sales fell 2.5% to $61.3 billion in July, the first monthly decline this year as sales
at gasoline stations and clothing stores dropped.
Statistics Canada said its initial estimate for August showed a retail sales gain of 0.4% for that
month.
The federal agency added that the July sales were down in nine of the 11 subsectors it tracks,
representing 95% of all retail sales across the country.
Sales at gasoline stations declined 14% for the month as gasoline prices declined 9.2%. Sales
at clothing stores dropped 3.3%.
Core retail sales, which excludes gas stations and motor vehicles, fell 0.9% in July.
