Canada. Retail sales up

Retail sales rose 0.7% in January to $35.7 billion. Stores selling home improvement products were large contributors to the gain in January, the final month of the federal government's Home Renovation Tax Credit.

Retail sales in volume terms increased 0.1% in January. The large increase in prices, which impacted volumes, was driven by significantly higher prices at new car dealers and gasoline stations. Retail sales volumes have been following an upward trend since the beginning of 2009.

Sales increased in six of eight retail store sectors in January. The largest contributor to the overall increase was a 7.4% rise at building and outdoor home supplies stores, the highest monthly growth rate for this type of store since August 2003 when a power blackout hit Ontario. Within the sector, home centres and hardware stores saw sales rise 6.0% and specialized building material and garden stores sales increase 14.0%.

Sales at furniture, home furnishings and electronics stores rose 2.5%, mainly as a result of a 15.1% gain at home furnishings stores, particularly those selling floor coverings. January's growth at home furnishings stores was the highest since the beginning of the series in 1991.

Food and beverage stores registered a 1.9% rise in sales in January, led by a 2.0% increase at supermarkets. This gain more than offset the decrease observed in December. Sales at beer, wine and liquor stores (+2.2%) were up after three consecutive months of declines.

The 1.1% rise at miscellaneous retailers was led by a 3.3% gain at sporting goods, hobby, music and book stores.

After two months of large weather-related fluctuations, clothing and accessories stores saw their sales increase 0.5% in January. Sales rose 1.3% at shoe, clothing accessories and jewellery stores and 0.2% at clothing stores.

Sales declined 1.5% in the automotive sector in January. The value of sales at new car dealers (-2.3%) fell for a third consecutive month after following an upward trend for most of 2009. About 40% of the sales at new car dealers come from selling used vehicles, parts and service. Used and recreational motor vehicles and parts dealers (-6.0%) had lower sales after monthly gains for the previous eight months. Gasoline stations (+1.5%) registered higher sales driven solely by higher prices at the pump.

Sales up in seven provinces

Retail sales rose in seven provinces in January. The largest contributor to the national increase was Ontario, where sales rose 1.4% after slight declines in the previous two months.

The highest growth rate among the provinces in January was a 2.1% rise in Newfoundland and Labrador. January's rise offset declines in the previous two months.

The largest decline was a 1.2% decrease in New Brunswick. Monthly sales growth has been fluctuating since the second half of 2009.

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