June retail sales rose to C$74.3bn, driven by e-commerce growth and higher core retail activity excluding fuel and autos.
Canadian retail sales increased 0.6% in June to C$74.3bn, marking a second consecutive monthly rise in core retail sales, which exclude gasoline and motor vehicles. Seven of nine sub-sectors reported gains, with e-commerce sales surging 9.9% to C$5.7bn, accounting for 7.7% of total retail trade.
Core retail sales advanced 1.2%, led by general merchandise and clothing retailers, while food and beverage sales declined 0.4%. Motor vehicle and parts dealers saw a 1% rise, though gasoline station sales dropped 4.1%. In volume terms, overall retail sales climbed 1.5%.
Second-quarter retail sales grew 2.2%, with volumes up 0.4%. Ontario posted the largest provincial gain, rising 1.6% in dollar terms.