Auto sales helped lift retail sales up 1% to $70.4B in August: StatCan

Statistics Canada says retail sales rose 1% to $70.4 billion in August, helped by gains in the auto sector.

However, the agency says its preliminary estimate for September suggests retail sales fell 0.7% for that month, but cautioned the figure would be revised.

For August, Statistics Canada says retail sales were up in six of nine subsectors as sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers rose 1.8%.

Sales at new car dealers gained 2.3% for the month, while used car dealers rose 1.5%.

Core retail sales — which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers — rose 1.1% in August.

In volume terms, retail sales increased 1% in August.

The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press is a national news agency headquartered in Toronto and founded in 1917.