Canada's retail sales rise in October

OTTAWA, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Canada's retail sales increased 1.6 percent to 57.6 billion Canadian dollars in October 2021 due to higher sales of motor vehicle and parts and new cars, according to Statistics Canada on Tuesday.

The sales increased in seven of 11 subsectors, accounting for 59.9 percent of retail trade.

Core retail sales, which exclude gasoline stations and motor vehicle and parts dealers, added 1.5 percent.

In volume terms, retail sales were up 0.9 percent in October.

The sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers rose 2.2 percent in October while the sales at new car dealers climbed 2.8 percent as sales rebounded from two consecutive months of decline.

The rise coincided with higher sales in the automotive subsectors of both manufacturing and wholesale trade in October.

The effects of semiconductor chip shortages on motor vehicle supply inputs were less pronounced in October than in September.

Receipts at gasoline stations edged down 0.1 percent in October. In volume terms, sales were down 3.2 percent. The Consumer Price Index saw an increase of five percent in gasoline prices in October.

Meanwhile, core retail sales were up 1.5 percent in October thanks to increased 2.8 percent sales at general merchandise stores.

The sales at sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores soared 17.5 percent in October, coinciding with the continued resumption of many recreational and school-based sporting leagues in the fall.

Also contributing to the increase were higher sales at building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers, which were up 3.2 percent.