Retail and wholesale, October 2024

Released: 2025-01-03

Retail sales increased 0.6% to $67.6 billion in October. Sales were up in five of nine subsectors and were led by increases at motor vehicle and parts dealers.

Core retail sales—which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers—were up 0.2% in October.

In volume terms, retail sales were unchanged in October.

Sales up at motor vehicle and parts dealers

The largest increase in retail sales in October was observed at motor vehicle and parts dealers (+2.0%). Higher sales at new car dealers (+2.5%) led the increase, followed by used car dealers (+2.5%). Automotive parts, accessories and tire retailers (-3.3%) were the only store type within this subsector to record a decrease in October.

Sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors (-0.5%) were down for a sixth consecutive month in October. In volume terms, sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors decreased 4.7%, following an increase of 4.1% in September.

Core retail sales rise

Core retail sales increased 0.2% in October, posting their second consecutive monthly increase. The gain was led by higher sales at furniture, home furnishings, electronics and appliances retailers (+2.5%).

In October, higher sales were also recorded at health and personal care retailers (+0.8%).

The largest decrease in core retail sales in October came from food and beverage retailers (-0.7%). Sales at food and beverage retailers were down from lower sales at supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers) (-0.9%) and beer, wine and liquor retailers (-0.4%).

Sales up in seven provinces

Retail sales increased in seven provinces in October. The largest provincial increase in dollar terms was observed in Ontario (+0.9%), led by higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers. In the census metropolitan area (CMA) of Toronto, sales were up 2.0%.

In British Columbia, retail sales increased 0.9% in October on the strength of higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers. In the CMA of Vancouver, sales were up 0.1%.

The largest provincial decrease in retail sales in October was observed in Newfoundland and Labrador (-1.0%), led by lower sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers.

Retail e-commerce sales in Canada

On a seasonally adjusted basis, retail e-commerce sales were up 1.5% to $4.2 billion in October, accounting for 6.2% of total retail trade.

Advance retail indicator

Statistics Canada is providing an advance estimate of retail sales, which suggests that sales were relatively unchanged in November. Owing to its early nature, this figure will be revised. This unofficial estimate was calculated based on responses received from 50.6% of companies surveyed. The average final response rate for the survey over the previous 12 months was 88.7%.

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Table 1 – Retail sales, by province, territory and census metropolitan area — Seasonally adjusted          
   October 2023  September 2024{r}  October 2024{p}  September to October 2024  October 2023 to October 2024
  millions of dollars millions of dollars millions of dollars % change % change
Canada 66559 67176 67578 0.6 1.5
Newfoundland and Labrador 953 1032 1022 -1 7.3
Prince Edward Island 290 302 293 -2.9 1
Nova Scotia 1790 1808 1827 1 2
New Brunswick 1471 1494 1489 -0.4 1.2
Quebec 15044 15182 15207 0.2 1.1
Montréal 7662 7571 7610 0.5 -0.7
Ontario 24882 24861 25097 0.9 0.9
Toronto 11127 11203 11425 2 2.7
Manitoba 2253 2260 2303 1.9 2.2
Saskatchewan 2244 2189 2201 0.5 -1.9
Alberta 8439 8803 8815 0.1 4.5
British Columbia 8958 9008 9089 0.9 1.5
Vancouver 4488 4532 4539 0.1 1.1
Yukon 93 98 95 -3.2 2.1
Northwest Territories 85 80 82 3.4 -3.4
Nunavut 56 58 57 -0.8 2.1
           
 r  revised          
 p  preliminary          
Note(s):          
Figures may not add up to totals as a result of rounding.          
Source(s):          
Table 20-10-0056-01.          

Table 1 – Retail sales, by province, territory and census metropolitan area — Seasonally adjusted

Table 2 – Retail sales, by industry — Seasonally adjusted          
   October 2023  September 2024{r}  October 2024{p}  September to October 2024  October 2023 to October 2024
  millions of dollars millions of dollars millions of dollars % change % change
Total retail trade (current dollars) 66559 67176 67578 0.6 1.5
           
Retail e-commerce 3841 4160 4222 1.5 9.9
           
Total retail trade (2017 chained dollars) 57667 58459 58487 0 1.4
           
Total (current dollars) excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers 48475 48796 48838 0.1 0.7
           
Total (current dollars) excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers and gasoline stations and fuel vendors 41983 42656 42729 0.2 1.8
           
Motor vehicle and parts dealers 18084 18380 18740 2 3.6
New car dealers 14345 14580 14949 2.5 4.2
Used car dealers 1335 1350 1384 2.5 3.7
Other motor vehicle dealers 1158 1118 1120 0.2 -3.2
Automotive parts, accessories and tire retailers 1246 1332 1287 -3.3 3.3
           
Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers 3862 3877 3853 -0.6 -0.2
           
Food and beverage retailers 12768 13093 13003 -0.7 1.8
Supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience) 9007 9324 9239 -0.9 2.6
Convenience retailers and vending machine operators 732 710 712 0.2 -2.8
Specialty food retailers 828 897 900 0.3 8.7
Beer, wine and liquor retailers 2200 2161 2152 -0.4 -2.2
           
Furniture, home furnishings, electronics and appliances retailers 3639 3613 3705 2.5 1.8
Furniture retailers 1181 1150 1176 2.3 -0.4
Floor covering, window treatment and other home furnishing retailers 698 732 712 -2.7 2.1
Electronics and appliances retailers 1760 1731 1817 4.9 3.2
           
General merchandise retailers 8894 9081 9070 -0.1 2
           
Health and personal care retailers 5560 5670 5715 0.8 2.8
           
Gasoline stations and fuel vendors 6493 6140 6109 -0.5 -5.9
           
Clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers 3508 3578 3621 1.2 3.2
Clothing and clothing accessories retailers 2686 2765 2786 0.7 3.7
Shoe retailers 426 402 407 1.4 -4.4
Jewellery, luggage and leather goods retailers 396 411 427 4 7.9
           
Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers 3753 3744 3761 0.5 0.2
Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and book retailers and news dealers 1364 1330 1311 -1.5 -3.9
Miscellaneous store retailers 2389 2414 2451 1.5 2.6
Cannabis retailers 439 440 444 1 1.3
           
 r  revised          
 p  preliminary          
Note(s):          
Figures may not add up to totals as a result of rounding.          
Source(s):          
Tables 20-10-0056-01 and 20-10-0067-01.          

Table 2 – Retail sales, by industry — Seasonally adjusted

Table 3 – Retail sales at 2017 constant prices, by industry — Seasonally adjusted          
   October 2023  September 2024{r}  October 2024{p}  September to October 2024  October 2023 to October 2024
  millions of dollars millions of dollars millions of dollars % change % change
Total retail trade at 2017 constant prices{1} 58040 59029 59034 0 1.7
           
Total excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers 42663 43356 43066 -0.7 0.9
           
Total excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers and gasoline stations and fuel vendors 37204 37105 37108 0 -0.3
           
Motor vehicle and parts dealers 15377 15673 15968 1.9 3.8
New car dealers 12094 12443 12769 2.6 5.6
Used car dealers 1148 1250 1272 1.8 10.8
Other motor vehicle dealers 1124 924 905 -2.1 -19.5
Automotive parts, accessories and tire retailers 1011 1057 1022 -3.3 1.1
           
Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers 3738 3878 3836 -1.1 2.6
           
Food and beverage retailers 10117 9879 9774 -1.1 -3.4
Supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers) 7129 7018 6926 -1.3 -2.8
Convenience retailers and vending machine operators 559 526 524 -0.4 -6.3
Specialty food retailers 642 631 628 -0.5 -2.2
Beer, wine and liquor retailers 1788 1704 1696 -0.5 -5.1
           
Furniture, home furnishings, electronics and appliances retailers 3630 3620 3702 2.3 2
Furniture retailers 1062 1053 1078 2.4 1.5
Floor covering, window treatment and other home furnishing retailers 650 678 657 -3.1 1.1
Electronics and appliances retailers 1918 1888 1967 4.2 2.6
           
General merchandise retailers 7568 7785 7779 -0.1 2.8
           
Health and personal care retailers 5350 5324 5363 0.7 0.2
           
Gasoline stations and fuel vendors 5459 6251 5958 -4.7 9.1
           
Clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers 3508 3700 3725 0.7 6.2
Clothing and clothing accessories retailers 2755 2955 2946 -0.3 6.9
Shoe retailers 431 442 447 1.1 3.7
Jewellery, luggage and leather goods retailers 321 303 332 9.6 3.4
           
Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book and miscellaneous retailers 3293 2917 2928 0.4 -11.1
Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and book retailers and news dealers 1280 1230 1213 -1.4 -5.2
Miscellaneous store retailers 2013 1687 1716 1.7 -14.8
Cannabis retailers 543 551 558 1.3 2.8
           
 r  revised          
 p  preliminary          
1. Calculated using the Laspeyres method.          
Note(s):          
Figures may not add up to totals as a result of rounding.          
Source(s):          
Table 20-10-0067-01.          

Table 3 – Retail sales at 2017 constant prices, by industry — Seasonally adjusted

Note to readers

All data in this release are seasonally adjusted and expressed in current dollars, unless otherwise noted.

Seasonally adjusted data are data that have been modified to eliminate the effect of seasonal and calendar influences to allow for more meaningful comparisons of economic conditions from period to period. For more information on seasonal adjustment, see Seasonally adjusted data – Frequently asked questions.

The percentage change for the advance estimate of retail sales is calculated using seasonally adjusted data and is expressed in current dollars.

This early indicator is a special unofficial estimate being provided to offer Canadians timely information on the retail sector. The data sources and methodology used are the same as those outlined on the Monthly Retail Trade Survey information page.

Trend-cycle estimates are included in selected charts as a complement to the seasonally adjusted series. These data represent a smoothed version of the seasonally adjusted time series and provide information on longer-term movements, including changes in direction underlying the series. For information on trend-cycle data, see Trend-cycle estimates – Frequently asked questions.

Both seasonally adjusted data and trend-cycle estimates are subject to revision as additional observations become available. These revisions could be extensive and could even lead to a reversal of movement, especially for the reference months near the end of the series or during periods of economic disruption.

Some common e-commerce transactions, such as travel and accommodation bookings, ticket purchases and financial transactions, are not included in Canadian retail sales figures.

Total retail sales expressed in volume terms are calculated by deflating current-dollar values using consumer price indexes.

Find more statistics on retail trade.

Next release

Data on retail trade for November 2024 will be released on January 23, 2025.

Definitions, data sources and methods

Definitions, data sources and methods

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