Statistics Canada says retail sales fell 0.2% in June to $50.7 billion.
Economists had expected an increase of 0.1%, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon.
The move lower followed a 2.2% increase in May. “The Canadian consumer took a small pause in June, but only after a sprint the prior month, so this is hardly a weak result,” Bank of Montreal economist Doug Porter said after the numbers came out.
Sales in June were down in six of the 11 sub-sectors tracked, representing 52% of total retail trade.
Sales at gasoline stations fell 2.3%, in part due to lower prices at the pump in June, while sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers dropped 0.7%. “There was some weakness in other sectors, such as furniture and electronics/appliances, but building materials/garden equipment rose, as did health & personal care,” Porter noted.
Food and beverage stores saw sales increase 0.9%.
Source: CBC
