(Ottawa) Statistics Canada indicates that retail sales fell 0.1% last August in the country, to 66.1 billion, as sales at new and used car dealerships declined during the month.
The federal agency adds that its initial estimates suggest that retail sales remained unchanged in September, while warning that these figures would be revised.
For the month of August, sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers fell 0.9%, those at new car dealers fell 1.1% and those at used car dealers fell 1.1%. 0.5%.
Statistics Canada says core retail sales, which exclude those of its gas stations, fuel sellers and automobile vehicle and parts dealers, fell 0.3% in August.
Sales at food and beverage retailers fell 1.2% while those at sporting goods, leisure, musical instruments, books and miscellaneous retailers fell 1.1%.
In volume terms, overall retail sales fell 0.7% in August in Canada.
Finally, Statistics Canada reports that retail sales declined in six provinces last August. The most pronounced provincial decline, of 1.1%, was measured in British Columbia while the largest increase, of 0.9%, was observed in Alberta.
In Quebec, retail sales fell by 0.5% in August, notably by 0.2% in the Montreal region.